Performance evaluation of an anoxic/oxic activated sludge system: effects of mean cell residence time and anoxic hydraulic retention time

A laboratory investigation has been undertaken to asses the effects of two operating parameters, mean cell residence time (MCRT) and anoxic hydraulic retention time (HRT), on the performance of an anoxic/oxic activated sludge system. The performance of the system was evaluated in terms of its COD, nitrogen, and biomass characteristics. An activated sludge system is capable of producing a better effluent, in terms of COD and nitrogen characteristics, when it is operated in an anoxic/oxic fashion. A longer MCRT and an adequate anoxic HRT are desirable in the operation of an anoxic/oxic activated sludge system. For the wastewater used in this investigation, the anoxic/oxic unit was capable of producing an effluent with the following characteristics when it was operated at MCRT = 20 days, total system HRT = 10 h, and anoxic HRT = 3-5 h: COD = 15 mg/L; VSS = 10 mg/L; TKN = 1.30 mg/L; NH(3) - N = 0.60 mg/L; and NO(2) + NO(3) - N = 5.0 mg/L. A uniform distribution of biomass is achievable in an anoxic/oxic activated sludge system because of the intensive recirculation/convection maintained. The provision of an anoxic zone in the aeration tank promotes a rapid adsorption of feed COD into the biomass without an immediate utilization for cell synthesis. This, in turn, results in a high microbial activity and a lower observed biomass yield in the system. A tertiary treatment efficiency is achievable in an anoxic/oxic activated sludge system with only secondary treatment operations and costs. A conventional activated sludge system can be easily upgraded by converting to the anoxic/oxic operation with minor process modifications.     

Ultrastructure of Microthrix parvicella from activated sludge

H.M. STRATTON, R. WEBB, E.M. SEVIOUR, L.L. BLACKALL AND R.J. SEVIOUR. 1996. Filaments of Microthrix parvicella grow very poorly in pure culture and have a characteristic uneven appearance containing large numbers of distinctive spherical swollen cells. This feature was only rarely seen with filaments of this organism in activated sludge biomass samples. Ultrastructurally, these spherical swollen cells do not appear to be bacterial endospores or cysts, but do show features that are consistent with them being some form of resting structure. Their production could be a response of M. parvicella to environmental stress, an explanation proposed because of their relative predominance in pure cultures of M. parvicella compared to their infrequent occurrence in filaments of this bacterium observed in activated sludge biomass.     

Hydrodynamics and mass transfer coefficient in activated sludge aerated stirred column reactor: experimental analysis and modeling

The aerated stirred reactor (ASR) has been widely used in biochemical and wastewater treatment processes. The information describing how the activated sludge properties and operation conditions affect the hydrodynamics and mass transfer coefficient is missing in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of flow regime, superficial gas velocity (U(G)), power consumption unit (P/V(L)), sludge loading, and apparent viscosity (mu(ap)) of activated sludge fluid on the mixing time (t(m)), gas hold-up (epsilon), and volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k(L)a) in an activated sludge aerated stirred column reactor (ASCR). The activated sludge fluid performed a non-Newtonian rheological behavior. The sludge loading significantly affected the fluid hydrodynamics and mass transfer. With an increase in the U(G) and P/V(L), the epsilon and k(L)a increased, and the t(m), decreased. The epsilon, k(L)a, and t(m), were influenced dramatically as the flow regime changed from homogeneous to heterogeneous patterns. The proposed mathematical models predicted the experimental results well under experimental conditions, indicating that the U(G), P/V(L), and mu(ap) had significant impact on the t(m), epsilon, and k(L)a. These models were able to give the t(m), epsilon, and k(L)a values with an error around +/-8%, and always less than +/-10%.     

The effect of Ni(II) on properties of bulking activated sludge and microbial analysis of sludge using 16S rDNA gene

This study investigated the effect of nickel on properties and microbial community of bulking activated sludge when 60-240 mg/L Ni(II) was dosed continuously in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) over 350 days. Results showed that 120 mg/L nickel did not significantly inhibited removal of organic pollutant by activated sludge. However, the system was completely upset when 240 mg/L Ni(II) was dosed. Improvement of settling and dewatering ability was also observed with the addition of Ni(II). In addition, investigations by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of 16S rDNA of bacteria strain demonstrated that Ni(II) significantly affected microbial community of bulking activated sludge, judging from the elimination of original species and emergence of possible new nickel-resistant bacteria. The effect of nickel on shift of microbial community was an important cause resulted in the improvement of sludge properties in this bulking activated sludge system.     

Biodegradation of chlorphyrifos by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella</Emphasis> sp. isolated from an activated sludge sample of waste water treatment plant in damascus

A chlorpyrifos (CPY)-degrading bacterial strain was isolated from an activated sludge sample collected from the Damascus Wastewater Treatment Plant, Syria. The isolation of Klebsiella sp. was facilitated by the addition of CPY at a rate of 3.84 g/L of sludge weekly (selection pressure). Identification of Klebsiella sp. was done using major staining and biochemical differentiation tests (Gram stain, cytochrome oxidase and some relevant saccharide fermentation tests using biochemical assays). Klebsiella sp. was maintained by culturing in a poor medium consisting of mineral salts and CPY as the sole carbon source. When 3 activated sludge samples were incubated in the presence of CPY (13.9 g/L sludge), 46% of added CPY were degraded within 4 d. By comparison, within 4 d the isolated Klebsiella sp. was found to break down 92% of CPY when co-incubated in a poor mineral medium in which CPY was the sole carbon source (13.9 g/L poor medium). Isolated Klebsiella sp. was able to tolerate up to 17.3 g of CPY in the poor medium.     

剩余活性污泥完全资源化利用微生物集成技术

剩余活性污泥完全资源化利用微生物集成技术包括: 使用土著PHA合成菌回注法驯化并发酵活性污泥, 生产生物降解材料聚羟基脂肪酸酯(PHA); 采用土著嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌和氧化硫硫杆菌进行生物淋滤, 去除重金属; 以解磷菌和解钾菌为菌种, 进行固态发酵, 生产生物菌肥。结果表明, 500 L中试PHA占挥发性悬浮固体的20%以上; 重金属含量达到国家排放要求; 生物菌肥中活菌数大于1×108 个/g以上。实现了剩余活性污泥的近零排放。     

Development of a test method to assess the sludge reduction potential of aquatic organisms in activated sludge.

This article shows the development of a quantitative sludge reduction test method, which uses the sludge consuming aquatic worm Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta, Lumbriculidae). Essential for the test are sufficient oxygen supply and the presence of a non-stirred layer of sludge for burrowing of the organisms. The test eliminates the unwanted effects of the organisms' movements, so-called bioturbation, on oxygen transport and (therefore) on sludge reduction. We used fresh untreated activated sludge grown on sewage, in order to stay close to the daily practice of sludge treatment. By separating sludge and worms, sludge reduction and worm growth are quantified independently and accurately. Predation by L. variegatus approximately doubles the decay rate of activated sludge. A minimum ratio of initial worm to sludge biomass (W(0)/S(0)) of about 0.4g worm/g sludge dry mass is required. Under the test conditions 20-40% of the predated sludge is converted into worm biomass. Our test is simple, reproducible and accurate and is done with equipment generally available in any laboratory, yielding results within a few days. The test can also be used to assess the application of mixtures of different aquatic organisms, but does not provide enough information for the design of a sludge treatment reactor.     

活性污泥积累PHB (Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate)及其菌群多样性分析

【目的】通过调整活性污泥在驯化过程中碳、氮、磷比例以及供氧模式, 以提高其积累PHB的能力。应用PCR-DGGE定期对驯化期间菌群动态进行分析。【方法】以乙酸钠为碳源, 在SBR (Sequencing batch reactor) 内以厌氧/好氧 (A/O) 交替的驯化模式, 逐级提高碳源浓度, 限制氮源浓度, 人为创造营养不均衡条件来逐步提高活性污泥积累PHB的能力。【结果】当碳浓度逐步提高, COD升高至1 200 mg/L, COD/N/P为1 200/9.6/30时, 活性污泥中PHB积累量达到最大, 占细胞干重的64.2%。【结论】驯化过程中逐步提高COD负荷, 并增加COD/N的值有利于PHB积累, 利用苏丹黑和Albert法染色显示菌群内产PHB菌占很大比例, 透射电镜显示菌体胞内含有大量白色PHB颗粒。经DGGE菌群动态分析, 发现驯化过程中菌群种类出现较为明显的演替, 而在一个反应周期(6 h)内菌种数量也有一定改变。驯化获得的高产PHB的菌群中含Acinetobacter、Bacillus、Bacteroidetes、Chryseobacteria 及proteobacteria等5个属的微生物, 菌群多样性较为丰富。     

Elimination of human enteric viruses during conventional waste water treatment by activated sludge

The present study was undertaken to determine if viruses were selectively eliminated during waste water treatment. Human enteric viruses were detected at all steps of treatment in a conventional activated sludge waste water treatment plant. Liquid overlays and large volume sampling with multiple passages on BGM cells permitted the detection of poliovirus (serotypes 1, 2, and 3), coxsackievirus B (serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), and echovirus (serotypes 3, 14, and 22), as well as reoviruses. The mean virus concentration was 95.1 most probable number of infectious units per litre (mpniu/L) in raw sewage, 23.3 in settled water, 1.4 in effluent after activated sludge treatment, and 40.3 mpniu/L in sludge samples. All samples of raw sewage and settled water, 79% of effluent water, and 94% of sludge samples contained viruses. The mean reduction was 75% after settling and 98% after activated sludge treatment. Poliovirus type 3 was rarely isolated after the activated sludge treatment, but was still detected in about one-third of the sludge samples. Reoviruses and coxsackieviruses were detected at similar rates from all samples and appear to be more resistant to the activated sludge treatment than poliovirus type 3. Poliovirus types 1 and 2 were present in almost every sample of raw sewage and settled water and still found in about half of the effluent and sludge samples, indicating a level of resistance similar to that of reoviruses and coxsackieviruses.     

The occurrence of intestinal parasites in swine slurry and their removal in activated sludge plants

Thirteen intensive pig farms and two activated sludge treatment plants for pig slurry in north-western Spain were studied from April 2005 to June 2006 in order to evaluate the presence of enteric pathogens (Cryptosporidium, Giardia and helminths) and the efficiency with which they were removed. These parasites were present on 53%, 7% and 38% of the farms studied, respectively, with concentrations of 10(4)-10(5) oocysts per litre (/L) for Cryptosporidium, 10(3)cysts/L for Giardia and 10(2)-10(3) eggs/L for helminths. The overall removal of parasites in the pig slurry treatment plants ranged from 86.7% to over 99.99%. The results revealed a constant reduction at each stage of the treatment system, with activated sludge processes being the most effective treatment in reducing pathogens in pig slurry, 78-81% for Cryptosporidium oocysts and over 99.9% for helminth eggs. A heat drying procedure for sludge removed 4.3 log units of Cryptosporidium oocysts, demonstrating the excellent effectiveness of this treatment for reducing pathogens in sludge intended to be applied to land.     

Anaerobic hydrogen production with an efficient carrier-induced granular sludge bed bioreactor

A novel bioreactor containing self-flocculated anaerobic granular sludge was developed for high-performance hydrogen production from sucrose-based synthetic wastewater. The reactor achieved an optimal volumetric hydrogen production rate of approximately 7.3 L/h/L (7,150 mmol/d/L) and a maximal hydrogen yield of 3.03 mol H2/mol sucrose when it was operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 0.5 h with an influent sucrose concentration of 20 g COD/L. The gas-phase hydrogen content and substrate conversion also exceeded 40 and 90%, respectively, under optimal conditions. Packing of a small quantity of carrier matrices on the bottom of the upflow reactor significantly stimulated sludge granulation that can be accomplished within 100 h. Among the four carriers examined, spherical activated carbon was the most effective inducer for granular sludge formation. The carrier-induced granular sludge bed (CIGSB) bioreactor was started up with a low HRT of 4-8 h (corresponding to an organic loading rate of 2.5-5 g COD/h/L) and enabled stable operations at an extremely low HRT (up to 0.5 h) without washout of biomass. The granular sludge was rapidly formed in CIGSB supported with activated carbon and reached a maximal concentration of 26 g/L at HRT = 0.5 h. The ability to maintain high biomass concentration at low HRT (i.e., high organic loading rate) highlights the key factor for the remarkable hydrogen production efficiency of the CIGSB processes.     

Effect of hexavalent chromium on the activated sludge process and on the sludge protozoan community

The objectives of this study were the determination of chromium effects to the performance of an activated sludge unit and the investigation of the response of the activated sludge protozoan community to Cr(VI). Two bench scale activated sludge reactors were supplied with synthetic sewage containing Cr(VI), at concentrations from 1 up to 50 mg L(-1). Protozoan species were identified and were related to the system efficiency. Variations in the abundance and diversity of the protozoan species were observed under various chromium concentrations. High removal rates of organics and nutrients were observed after the acclimatization of the activated sludge, which were related to the initial chromium(VI) concentration. Chromium(VI) removal efficiency was high in all cases. The protistan community was affected by the influent chromium content. Dominance of sessile species was observed in the reactor receiving 5 mg L(-1) influent chromium, whereas co-dominance of sessile and carnivorous species was observed in the reactors receiving higher chromium concentrations.     

不同生境微生物转化H2/CO2产乙酸及其在合成气发酵中应用

【目的】合成气发酵对大力开发可再生资源和促进国家可持续发展具有重要意义,研究旨在探究不同生境微生物转化H2/CO2产乙酸及其合成气发酵的潜力。【方法】采集剩余污泥、牛粪、产甲烷污泥和河道底物样品在中温(37 °C)条件下生物转化H2/CO2气体,将来源于牛粪样品的H2/CO2转化富集物用于合成气发酵,通过454高通量技术和定量PCR技术分析复杂微生物群落的组成,GC气相色谱法检测气体转化产生的挥发性脂肪酸(VFAs)浓度。【结果】牛粪和剩余污泥微生物利用H2/CO2气体生成乙酸、乙醇和丁酸等,最高乙酸浓度分别为63 mmol/L和40 mmol/L,明显高于河道底物和产甲烷污泥样品的最高乙酸浓度3 mmol/L和16 mmol/L。牛粪和剩余污泥微生物中含有种类多样化的同型产乙酸菌,剩余污泥中同型产乙酸菌主要为Clostridium spp.、Sporomusa malonica和Acetoanaerobium noterae,牛粪中则为Clostridium spp.、Treponema azotonutricium和Oxobacter pfennigii。【结论】同型产乙酸菌的丰富度和数量两个因素都对复杂微生物群落转化H2/CO2产乙酸效率至关重要;转化H2/CO2得到的富集物可用于合成气发酵产乙酸和乙醇,这为基于混合培养技术的合成气发酵提供了依据。     

脱氮硫杆菌特异引物/探针的设计和评价

自脱氮硫杆菌(Thiobacillus denitrificans)16S rRNA基因V3可变区中发现一条27 bp的特异序列, 以该序列为反向引物, 对高效同步脱硫反硝化系统污泥DNA进行了温度梯度PCR扩增和基因文库构建, 结果证实了该引物的高度专一性。应用该探针在去离子甲酰胺和NaCl的浓度分别为35%和100 mmol/L, 杂交/洗脱温度为48°C条件下对污泥样品杂交得到较好的阳性结果, 软件分析表明脱氮硫杆菌在污泥中约占15%。脱氮硫杆菌专一性引物/探针的提出, 将为不同生态环境中该种微生物的时空分布、结构动态以及实时定量等研究提供分子生物学工具。     

微生物烟气脱硫中硫酸盐还原阶段的限制性因素及其影响

【目的】利用硫酸盐还原菌(SRB)厌氧活性污泥进行烟气脱硫,探索硫酸盐生物还原的最适条件及重金属离子对硫酸盐生物还原的影响,以提高硫酸盐还原阶段的效率。【方法】对取自污水处理厂的SRB厌氧活性污泥进行高浓度硫酸盐胁迫驯化。分析生物脱硫过程中SRB厌氧污泥还原硫酸盐的限制性因素及影响。【结果】在最适生长条件下(pH 6.5,32°C),经驯化获得的SRB厌氧活性污泥有较强的硫酸盐还原能力。Fe2+的适量添加对硫酸盐还原有一定促进作用。SRB厌氧污泥还原硫酸盐的ThCOD/SO42-最适值为3.00,ThCOD=3.33为最适理论化学需氧量,硫酸盐还原率可达72.15%。SRB厌氧污泥还原硫酸盐反应体系中抑制SRB活性的硫化物浓度为300 mg/L。Pb2+和Ni2+在较低的浓度下(1.0 mg/L和2.0 mg/L)对硫酸盐的还原产生较强的抑制作用,而Cu2+在稍高的浓度下(8.0 mg/L)显示出明显的抑制作用。【结论】经驯化,SRB厌氧活性污泥显示出较强的硫酸盐还原能力,具有应用于工业烟气生物脱硫的潜力。去除重金属离子Pb2+、Ni2+和Cu2+可有效解除对硫酸盐生物还原作用的抑制。     

The phosphorus fractions and alkaline phosphatase activities in sludge

The alkaline phosphatase activities (APA) and phosphorus fractions in activated sludge during wastewater treatment were studied. Our results showed that the phosphorus concentration and fractions in activated sludge were highly correlated with the characteristics of influents. Inorganic phosphorus (IP) and non-apatite inorganic phosphorus (NAIP) were the main phosphorus fractions of sludge. A larger phosphorus concentration was found in activated sludge due to the more readily mobilizable and bio-available forms. The APA in sludge was directly correlated with mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) in activated sludge. The APA in the sludge is implicated the depletion of organic phosphorus forms in sludge, whilst also implying its less inhibition of inorganic phosphorus in sludge. The APA and phosphorus fractions in different sludge samples from the same wastewater treatment plant were quite stable. This stability shows their tight interactions in sludge.     

Impacts of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Nutrient Removal from Wastewater and Bacterial Community Structure in Activated Sludge

Background

The increasing use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) will inevitably lead to the exposure of wastewater treatment facilities. However, knowledge of the impacts of MWCNTs on wastewater nutrient removal and bacterial community structure in the activated sludge process is sparse.

Aims

To investigate the effects of MWCNTs on wastewater nutrient removal, and bacterial community structure in activated sludge.

Methods

Three triplicate sequencing batch reactors (SBR) were exposed to wastewater which contained 0, 1, and 20 mg/L MWCNTs. MiSeq sequencing was used to investigate the bacterial community structures in activated sludge samples which were exposed to different concentrations of MWCNTs.

Results

Exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs had no acute (1 day) impact on nutrient removal from wastewater. After long-term (180 days) exposure to 1 mg/L MWCNTs, the average total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was not significantly affected. TN removal efficiency decreased from 84.0% to 71.9% after long-term effects of 20 mg/L MWCNTs. After long-term exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs, the total phosphorus removal efficiencies decreased from 96.8% to 52.3% and from 98.2% to 34.0% respectively. Further study revealed that long-term exposure to 20 mg/L MWCNTs inhibited activities of ammonia monooxygenase and nitrite oxidoreductase. Long-term exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs both inhibited activities of exopolyphosphatase and polyphosphate kinase. MiSeq sequencing data indicated that 20 mg/L MWCNTs significantly decreased the diversity of bacterial community in activated sludge. Long-term exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs differentially decreased the abundance of nitrifying bacteria, especially ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The abundance of PAOs was decreased after long-term exposure to 20 mg/L MWCNTs. The abundance of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) was increased after long-term exposure to 1 mg/L MWCNTs.

Conclusion

MWCNTs have adverse effects on biological wastewater nutrient removal, and altered the diversity and structure of bacterial community in activated sludge.     

Using acoustic cavitation to improve the bio-activity of activated sludge

This paper studied a new method to improve the microbial activity of the activated sludge for wastewater treatment. Concentrated sludge was sonicated in an extra chamber for short period and then returned to the activated sludge system. The results showed that the bio-activity of the activated sludge, expressed as oxygen utilization rate (OUR), could be enhanced by ultrasonic irradiation. Powerful ultrasound (in the magnitude of W/ml) was much more effective than weak ultrasound (in the magnitude of W/L) in stimulating the activated sludge, but too strong sonication (power density higher than 0.5 W/ml) disintegrated the sludge and thus decreased the sludge activity. Low frequency (25 kHz) was more effective than higher ones (80 kHz and 150 kHz), indicating that mechanical effects, instead of free radicals, were responsible for the bio-activity enhancement. The optimal sonication conditions were sound frequency of 25 kHz, power density of 0.2 W/ml and duration of 30s; under which the sludge OUR increased by 28%, the bio-mass growth rate increased by 12.5%, and the wastewater chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen removal efficiency increased by 5-6%.     

气提式内循环硝化反应器运行性能的研究

气提式内循环反应器具有很好的生物硝化性能,能承受高进水氨浓度（78.49mmol/L）,具有高容积转化效率（163.18 mmol/L·d）,运行性能稳定（氨去除率保持在94.42%以上）。在气提式内循环反应器的运行过程中,可产生硝化颗粒污泥。颗粒污泥开始出现的时间约为45d,颗粒污泥的粒径平均值0.83 mm,沉降速度55.53m/h,氨氧化活性0.95mmol (NH⁺₄-N)/g(VS)·d。硝化颗粒污泥也具有厌氧氨氧化活性,氨氧化速率0.23mmol (NH⁺₄-N)/g(VS)·d,亚硝酸还原速率0.24mmol (NO^-₂-N)/g(VS)·d。     

Identification of a functionally important population in phenol-digesting activated sludge with antisera raised against isolated bacterial strains.

Antisera were raised against nine strains which had been isolated from phenol-acclimated oil refinery activated sludge. Although several antisera reacted significantly with the activated sludge during a period of adaptation to phenol, only an antiserum against one of the isolates, Alcaligenes sp. E2, reacted with the activated sludge after the adaptation period. A kinetic pattern of phenol-oxygenating activity of the activated sludge after the adaptation period was similar to that of strain E2. These results suggest that a functionally important population in the phenol-digesting activated sludge was serologically identified.