Removal of disperse dyes from textile wastewater using bio-sludge

Granular activated carbon (GAC) did not show any significant adsorption ability on the disperse dyes, while resting (living) bio-sludge of a domestic wastewater treatment plant showed high adsorption abilities on both disperse dyes and organic matter. The dye adsorption ability of bio-sludge increased by approximately 30% through acclimatization with disperse dyes, and it decreased by autoclaving. The deteriorated bio-sludge could be reused after being washed with 0.1N NaOH solution. Disperse Red 60 was more easily adsorbed onto the bio-sludge than Disperse Blue 60. The Disperse Red 60, COD, and BOD5 adsorption capacities of acclimatized, resting bio-sludge were 40.0+/-0.1, 450+/-12, and 300+/-10mg/g of bio-sludge, respectively. The GAC-SBR system could be applied to treat textile wastewater (TWW) containing disperse dyes with high dye, BOD5, COD, and TKN removal efficiencies of 93.0+/-1.1%, 88.0+/-3.1%, 92.2+/-2.7% and 51.5+/-7.0%, respectively without any excess bio-sludge production under an organic loading of 0.18 kg BOD5/m3-d. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies increased with the addition of glucose into the system. The dye, BOD5, COD, and TKN removal efficiencies of the GAC-SBR system with TWW containing 0.89 g/L glucose were 94.6+/-0.7%, 94.4+/-0.6%, 94.4+/-0.8% and 59.3+/-8.5%, respectively, under an SRT of 67+/-0.4 days.     

Removal of Pb2+ and Ni2+ by bio-sludge in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and granular activated carbon-SBR (GAC-SBR) systems

Living bio-sludge from domestic wastewater treatment plant was used as adsorbent of heavy metals (Pb(2+), Ni(2+)) and its adsorption capacity was about 10-30% reduced by autoclaving at 110 degrees C for 10 min. The living bio-sludge acclimatized in synthetic industrial estate wastewater (SIEWW) without heavy metals showed the highest Pb(2+) and Ni(2+) adsorption capacities at 840+/-20 and 720+/-10 mg/g bio-sludge, respectively. The adsorbed Pb(2+) and Ni(2+) were easily eluted (70-77%) from bio-sludge by washing with 0.1 mol/l HNO(3) solution. The heavy metals (Pb(2+), Ni(2+)) removal efficiency of both SBR and GAC-SBR systems were increased with the increase of hydraulic retention time (HRT), or the decrease of organic loading. The SBR system showed higher heavy metals removal efficiency than GAC-SBR system at the same organic loading or HRT. The Pb(2+), Ni(2+), BOD(5), COD and TKN removal efficiencies of GAC-SBR system were 88.6+/-0.9%, 94.6+/-0.1%, 91.3+/-1.0%, 81.9+/-1.0% and 62.9+/-0.5%, respectively with industrial estate wastewater (IEWW) with 410 mg/l glucose, 5 mg/l Pb(2+) and 5 mg/l Ni(2+) under organic loading of 1.25 kg BOD(5)/m(3) d (HRT of 3 days). The bio-sludge quality (sludge volume index: SVI) of the system was less than 80 ml/g. The excess sludge from both SBR and GAC-SBR systems with SIEWW under the organic loading of 1.25-2.50 kg BOD(5)/m(3) d contained Pb(2+) and Ni(2+) at concentrations of 240-250 mg Pb(2+)/g bio-sludge and 180-210 mg Ni(2+)/g bio-sludge, respectively.     

Removal of Zn2+ and Cu2+ by a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system

Both resting (living) and autoclaved (dead) bio-sludges showed almost the same Cu2+ and Zn2+ adsorption capacities with synthetic industrial estate wastewater (SIEWW). The resting bio-sludge showed not only Cu2+ and Zn2+ adsorption abilities but also organic matter adsorption ability. But, the organic matter (COD and BOD5) adsorption ability of bio-sludge with SIEWW containing 60 mg/L Cu2+ was about half of that with SIEWW containing 60 mg/L Zn2+. The adsorbed Cu2+ and Zn2+ were easily eluted (70-75%) from bio-sludge with 0.1 N HNO3 and 0.1 M EDTA solutions. Bio-sludge from a wastewater treatment plant could be used as an adsorbent for metal ions (Cu2+ and Zn2+). Cu2+ and Zn2+ could repress the SBR system efficiency but its efficiency could be increased with the increase of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and Cu2+ had more effect than Zn2+ to repress the system efficiency. The SBR system showed very low removal efficiencies of the pollutants with industrial estate wastewater (IEWW), but its pollutant removal efficiencies with IEWW could be increased with the addition of glucose. The Zn2+, Cu2+, BOD5, COD and TKN removal efficiencies of the system with IEWW containing 1.27 g/L glucose, 10 mg/L Cu2+ and 10 mg/L Zn2+ under MLSS of 4500 mg/L were 92.61 +/- 0.28%, 83.77 +/- 0.93%, 98 +/- 0%, 92 +/- 0% and 78.1 +/- 0.1%, respectively.     

Packed cage rotating biological contactor system for treatment of cyanide wastewater

The aim of this work was to study the efficiency of the packed cage rotating biological contactor (RBC) system with synthetic wastewater (SWW) containing 800 mg/l BOD(5) with various cyanide residue concentrations and hydraulic loading time. The results showed that cyanide had a negative effect to both the system's efficiency and bio-film quality. An increase in cyanide concentration led to a decrease in bio-film growth and the consequent reduction in the removal efficiency of the system. Also, the effluent suspended solids (SS) of the system was increased with increasing cyanide concentrations because the bio-film detached from the media due to the toxicity of the cyanide residue. The system showed the highest COD, BOD(5), TKN and cyanide removal efficiencies of 94.0 +/- 1.6%, 94.8 +/- 0.9%, 59.1 +/- 2.8% and 95.5 +/- 0.6%, respectively, with SWW containing 5 mg/l cyanide under HRT of 8 days, while they were only 88.8 +/- 0.7%, 89.5 +/- 0.5%, 40.3 +/- 1.1% and 93.60 +/- 0.09%, respectively, with SWW containing 40 mg/l cyanide. In addition, the effluent ammonia, nitrite and nitrate were increased with increases in cyanide concentration or loading. However, the system with SWW containing the highest cyanide concentration of 40 mg/l showed almost constant COD and BOD(5) removal efficiencies of 89% and 90%, even when the system was controlled under the lowest HRT of 8 h.     

Treatment of molasses wastewater by acetogenic bacteria BP103 in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system

Acetogenic bacteria BP103 cells could be used as the absorbent for melanoidin pigment (MP) and molasses wastewater (MWW). The maximum MP adsorption yield of this strain observed from the dead (autoclaved) cell. It was two times higher than that with resting cells. However, the MP adsorption yield of the strain was 50-60% decreased by acclimatization with the media containing MP. The deteriorated cells (MP-adsorbed cells) could be recovered by washing with 0.1% SDS, 0.1% Tween 80 and 0.1 mol/L NaOH solutions. Among them, 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution was most suitable according to highest elution ability and no-effect to the MP adsorption capacity (The adsorption yield of deteriorated cell was reduced only 10% after washing three times with 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution). In SBR system, the strain showed very low MP removal yield with both molasses wastewater (MWW) from the anaerobic pond (An-MWW) and stillage from an alcohol factory (U-MWW). However, the MP removal yield was increased by supplementation with carbon sources (glucose). Also, the MP removal efficiency was increased with the increase of supplemented-glucose concentration. The highest COD, BOD(5), TKN and MP removal efficiencies of the SBR system with 10 times-diluted An-MWW solution containing 30 g/L glucose under HRT of seven days were 65.2+/-2.5%, 82.8+/-3.4%, 32.1+/-0.8% and 50.2+/-3.7%, respectively. The large molecular weight fraction of MP in both U-MWW and An-MWW solutions were rapidly removed by acetogenic bacteria BP103, while the small molecular weight fractions of MP still remained in the effluent.     

Biodegradation of tannery wastewater using sequencing batch reactor--respirometric assessment

This investigation proved that respirometry combined with sequencing batch reactor (SBR) could be an effective way for the removal of COD in tannery wastewater. Measurement of oxygen uptake rates (OUR) and corresponding COD uptake rates showed that a 12-h operating cycle was optimum for tannery wastewater. The removal of COD by degradation was stoichiometric with oxygen usage. A plot of OUR values provided a good indication of the biological activity in the reactor. A high OUR value corresponded to the feed period; at the end of the cycle, when the substrate was depleted, the OUR value was low. At a 12-h SBR cycle with a loading rate of 1.9-2.1 kgm(-3) d(-1), removal of 80-82% COD, 78-80% TKN and 83-99% NH(3)-N were achieved. These removal efficiencies were much higher than the conventional aerobic systems. A simple method of COD fractionation was performed from the OUR and COD uptake rate data of the SBR cycle. About 66-70% of the influent COD was found to be readily biodegradable, 10-14% was slowly degradable and 17-21% was non-biodegradable. The oxygen mass transfer coefficient, K(L)a (19 +/- 1.7 h(-1)) was derived from respirometry. It was observed that with the exception of high organic load at the initial feed the oxygen transfer capacity was in excess of the OUR, and aerobic condition was generally maintained. Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification was observed in the SBR during the feed period as proved by mass balance.     

Nutrient recovery from domestic wastewater using a UASB-duckweed ponds system

The pilot-scale wastewater treatment system used in this study comprised a 40-l UASB reactor (6-h HRT) followed by three duckweed ponds in series (total HRT 15 days). During the warm season, the treatment system achieved removal values of 93%, 96% and 91% for COD, BOD and TSS, respectively. Residual values of ammonia, TKN and total phosphorus were 0.41 mg N/l, 4.4 mg N/l and 1.11 mg P/l, with removal efficiencies of 98%, 85% and 78%, respectively. The system achieved 99.998% faecal coliform removal during the warm season with final effluent containing 4 x 10(3) cfu/100 ml. During the winter, the system was efficient in removing COD, BOD and TSS but not nutrients. The system was deficient in the removal of faecal coliforms during the winter, producing effluent with 4.7 x 10(5) cfu/100 ml. During the warm season, the N removal consisted of 80% by plant uptake, 5% by sedimentation and 15% unaccounted for. A duckweed production rate of 33 t dry matter per hectare per 8 months was achieved.     

Identifying an interfering factor on chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination in piggery wastewater and eliminating the factor by an indigenous Pseudomonas stutzeri strain

AIMS: This study attempted to demonstrate nitrite interference on chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination in piggery wastewater, and the capability of aerobic denitrification of the SU2 strain which is capable of promoting the efficiency of nitrogen and COD removal from piggery wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was performed in a 17-litre reactor with a 30% packing ratio, with a ratio of immobilized SU2 cells to sludge of 100:1. The ratio of aeration to nonaeration was 4 : 1.5. Removal efficiency of COD was 86.8%. Removal efficiency of BOD and SS was higher than 90%, and removal efficiency of NH4+-N and TKN was almost 100%. CONCLUSIONS: NO2- -N interference is significant when its concentration in piggery wastewater exceeds 100 mg l-1. COD in piggery wastewater can be indirectly reduced following nitrite reduction by SU2 strain. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Utilizing immobilized SU2 cells in coordination with an SBR system simultaneously reduces nitrite and COD concentrations.     

Treatment of tomato processing wastewater by an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-anoxic-aerobic system

The main objective of this study is to assess the achievability of stringent discharge criteria i.e. BOD(5)<15 mg/L, TSS<15 mg/L and NH(4)-N<1mg/L during the treatment of tomato processing wastewater with COD of 2800-15,500 mg/L, BOD(5) of 1750-7950 mg/L, TKN of 48-340 mg/L and NH(4)-N of 21-235 mg/L. Two treatment systems, a UASB-aerobic system and a UASB-anoxic-aerobic system were tested. Furthermore due to alkalinity deficiency, in the raw wastewater, the study explored varying UASB effluent recirculation flowrates to the UASB influent to reduce additional alkalinity requirements. The UASB-anoxic-aerobic system was effective in treating tomato canning wastewater at an overall HRT of 1.75 days while achieving 98.5% BOD(5), 95.6% COD, 84% TSS and 99.5% NH(4)-N removal producing effluent BOD(5), COD, TSS, NH(4)-N, TKN, NO(2)-N, NO(3)-N and PO(4)-P of 10, 70, 15, 0.5, 3, 0, 60 and 4 mg/L, respectively. The biogas yield was 0.43 m(3)/kg COD removed.     

Treatment of wastewater containing Cl2 residue by packed cage rotating biological contactor (RBC) system

A packed cage rotating biological contactor (RBC) system was applied to treat wastewater containing Cl2 residue with concentration even up to 20 mg/L. However, Cl2 exhibited a negative effect on the efficiency of the system as evidenced by the decrease in the growth of bio-film. It could be concluded that the removal efficiency of the system decreased with the increase of Cl2 concentration or Cl2 loading. Due to inhibition of bio-film growth by the effects of Cl2 residue, the effluent suspended solids (SS) of the system was decreased. The bio-film was easily detached from the media under high growth rate conditions resulting in an increase of effluent SS. The COD and BOD5 removal efficiencies of the system under the highest organic and Cl2 loadings of 4.07 g BOD5/m2 d and 203.6 mg Cl2/m2 d, respectively, were 58.0+/-3.2% and 60.7+/-3.9%, respectively, while they were up to 83.3+/-1.8% and 85.8+/-2.0%, respectively, under the lowest organic and Cl2 loading of 2.04 g BOD5/m2 d and 25.5 mg Cl2/m2 d. However, the effluent SS of the system under above operating conditions was lower than 20 mg/L.     

Surface flow constructed wetland for heavy oil-produced water treatment

Heavy oil-produced water from China' Liaohe Oilfield was purified in a surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) during a 3-yr field experiment. Treatment showed high mean removal efficiencies of 80%, 93%, 88% and 86% for COD, oil, BOD and TKN, respectively for reed bed #1 and 71%, 92%, 77%, and 81% for COD, oil, BOD and TKN, respectively for reed bed #2. The results also showed that in the third year of the system's operation, the oil-produced water had mainly positive impacts on the reed's health parameters. Thus, reed can be used as a feasible wetland macrophyte for treating such wastewater, and this SFCW system can operate for a long time.     

Specific biogas production and role of packing medium in the treatment of rubber thread manufacturing industry wastewater

Wastewater from three rubber thread manufacturing industries collected from three different sampling points was characterised. The acidic wastewater (pH = 3.6 to 4.7) contains high levels of COD, BOD, nitrogen and zinc. The average COD:N:P ratio was 100:3.8:0.4 whereas the BOD:N:P ratio was 100:4.5:0.4 with more than sufficient amounts of N and P for anaerobic digestion using the up-flow anaerobic filter. The specific biogas yield ranged between 0.250 to 0.069 l CH₄/g COD added when the organic loading rate was altered from 2.0 to 14.0 g COD/l/d respectively. The biogas production rate and the biogas yield rate increased from 8.2 to 42.7 l/d and 0.97 to 1.50 l CH₄/l/d respectively, for the same organic loading rate. The N and P utilised ranged between 1.53 to 1.20 and 0.3 to 0.26 mg per 100 mg COD consumed respectively when the organic loading rate was increased from 2.0 to 14.0 g COD/l/d. The optimum COD:N:P ratio obtained for steady state operation of the up-flow anaerobic filter in this study for the rubber thread manufacturing wastewater was 100:1.3:0.3. Attached biomass was responsible for the removal of more than 70% of the COD in the wastewater when PU foam was used as the packing media.     

Aerobic treatment of dairy wastewater with sequencing batch reactor systems

Performances of single-stage and two-stage sequencing batch reactor (SBR) systems were investigated for treating dairy wastewater. A single-stage SBR system was tested with 10,000 mg/l chemical oxygen demand (COD) influent at three hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 1, 2, and 3 days and 20,000 mg/l COD influent at four HRTs of 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. A 1-day HRT was found sufficient for treating 10,000-mg/l COD wastewater, with the removal efficiency of 80.2% COD, 63.4% total solids, 66.2% volatile solids, 75% total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and 38.3% total nitrogen from the liquid effluent. Two-day HRT was believed sufficient for treating 20,000-mg/l COD dairy wastewater if complete ammonia oxidation is not desired. However, 4-day HRT needs to be used for achieving complete ammonia oxidation. A two-stage system consisting of an SBR and a complete-mix biofilm reactor was capable of achieving complete ammonia oxidation and comparable carbon, solids, and nitrogen removal while using at least 1/3 less HRT as compared to the single SBR system.     

Effects of alkalinity and co-substrate on the performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor through decolorization of Congo Red azo dye

The effect of substrate (glucose) concentrations and alkalinitiy (NaHCO3) on the decolorization of a synthetic wastewater containing Congo Red (CR) azo dye was performed in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). Color removal efficiencies approaching 100% were obtained at glucose-COD concentrations varying between 0 and 3000 mg/l. The methane production rate and total aromatic amine (TAA) removal efficiencies were found to be 120 ml per day and 43%, respectively, while the color was completely removed during glucose-COD free operation of the UASB reactor. The complete decolorization of CR dye under co-substrate free operation could be attributed to TAA metabolism which may provide the electrons required for the cleavage of azo bond in CR dye exist in the UASB reactor. No significant differences in pH levels (6.6-7.4), methane production rates (2000-2700 ml/day) and COD removal efficiencies (82-90%) were obtained for NAHCO3 concentrations ranging between 550 and 3000 mg/l. However, decolorization efficiency remained at 100% with decreasing NaHCO3 concentrations as low as 250 mg/l in the feed. An alkalinity/COD ratio of 0.163 in the feed was suggested for simultaneous optimum COD and color removal.     

Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment: evaluation of a new three-phase separation system in a UASB reactor.

The anaerobic treatment of the wastewater from the meat processing industry was studied using a 7.2 1 UASB reactor. The reactor was equipped with an unconventional configuration of the three-phase separation system. The effluent was characterized in terms of pH (6.3-6.6), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (2,000-6,000 mg l(-1)), biochemical oxygen demand BOD5 (1,300-2,300 mg 1(-1)), fats (40-600 mg l(-1)) and total suspended solids (TSS) (850-6,300 mg l(-1)) The reactor operated continuously throughout 80 days with hydraulic retention time of 14, 18 and 22 h. The wastewater from Rezende Industrial was collected after it had gone through pretreatment (screening, flotation and equalization). COD, BOD and TSS reductions and the biogas production rate were the parameters considered in analyzing the efficiency of the process. The average production of biogas was 111 day(-1) (STP) for the three experimental runs. COD removal varied from 77% to 91% while BOD removal was 95%. The removal of total suspended solids varied from 81% to 86%. This fact supports optimal efficiency of the proposed three-phase separation system as well as the possibility of applying it to the treatment of industrial effluents.     

A bio-oxidation study of methanol synthetic wastewater using the SBR

Bio-oxidation and biomass generation in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were investigated. This paper presents the results obtained from an SBR treating a synthetic wastewater used to simulate a pharmaceutical wastewater. Nutrient removal and biokinetics of the SBR process, as well as dissolved oxygen and pH variations during bio-oxidation, were discussed. COD and BOD removal efficiencies were good. System stability was achieved within 2 weeks of each change of feed strength. The 48-h cycle adopted was found to be sufficient to force the biomass into endogenous respiration, hence controlling the excess biomass formed through assimilation of the feed's organic carbon. Although the ammonia-nitrogen level in the feed was high, nitrification was not observed. Track monitoring of DO and pH was found to provide good indications of the completion of bio-oxidation.     

Effect of COD/N ratio and salinity on the performance of sequencing batch reactors

The effects of COD/N ratio (3-6) and salt concentration (0.5-2%) on organics and nitrogen removal efficiencies in three bench top sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with synthetic wastewater and one SBR with fish market wastewater were investigated under different operating schedules. The solids retention time (SRT, 20-100 days) and aeration time (4-10h) was also varied to monitor the performance. For synthetic wastewater, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were consistently greater than 95%, irrespective of changes in COD/N ratio, aeration time and salt concentrations. Increasing the salt concentrations decreased the nitrification efficiency, while high COD/N ratio's favored better nitrogen removal (>90%). The treatment of real saline wastewater ( approximately 3.2%) from a fish market showed high COD (>80%) and nitrogen (>40%) removal efficiencies despite high loading rate and COD/N fluctuations, which is due to the acclimatization of the biomass within the SBR.     

人工湿地对猪场废水有机物处理效果的研究

分别以香根草 (Vetiveriazizanioides)和风车草 (Cyperusalternifolius)为植被 ,按 1.0m× 0 .5m×0 .8m建立人工湿地 ,通过 4季测试 ,研究其对猪场废水有机物的净化功能及其随季节、进水浓度及水力停留时间变化的规律 .结果表明 ,4个季节香根草或风车草人工湿地对COD和BOD有较稳定的去除效果 ,两湿地抗有机负荷冲击能力强 .在春季 ,停留时间 1～ 2d ,COD和BOD去除率分别为 70 %和 80 %;在夏季 ,进水COD高达 10 0 0～ 140 0mg·L-1情况下 ,COD去除率接近 90 %;在秋季 ,停留时间 1～ 2d ,COD和BOD去除率分别为 5 0 %～ 6 0 %和 5 0 %;在冬季 ,进水COD达 10 0 3mg·L-1情况下 ,COD去除率在 70 %以上 .COD、BOD和SS的去除率在两湿地间没有显著差异 .人工湿地污染物 (Y)随水力停留时间 (t)延长的降解遵从指数方程规律Yt=Y0 ·e( -kt) .在相同停留时间时 ,随进水污染物浓度 (x)提高的出水污染物浓度 (y)的回归关系遵从直线方程规律 y =a+bx .     

Performance of membrane-less microbial fuel cell treating wastewater and effect of electrode distance and area on electricity production

Performance of mediator-less and membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) was evaluated to treat synthetic wastewater and actual sewage. The ML-MFC gave COD and BOD removal efficiencies of 88% and 87%, respectively, and TKN removal was around 45-50%. Biomass granulation was observed in the anode compartment of ML-MFC. Effect of distance between the electrodes and total surface area of anode on electricity production was evaluated under variable external resistance. Maximum power density of 10.9 and 10.13 mW/m2 was observed at lower spacing between the electrodes (20 cm) and for lesser surface area of the anode, respectively. With variation in the carbon source in the feed, variation in power production was observed.     

Feasibility of using constructed wetland treatment for molasses wastewater treatment

The surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) with Cyperus involucratus, Typha augustifolia and Thalia dealbata J. Fraser was applied to treat anaerobic treated-molasses wastewater (An-MWW) under the organic loading rates (OLRs) of 612, 696, 806, 929 and 1,213 kg BOD(5)ha(-1)day(-1). The results showed that both removal efficiency and plant growth rate were increased with the decrease of organic loading rate (OLR). All tested-plant species could not grow under OLR of higher than 696 kg BOD(5)mg l(-1) (p>0.05). Also, the plant-biomass of the systems was reduced by 10.4%, 26.5%, and 64.7% of initial plant-biomass under the OLR of 806, 929 and 1,213 kg BOD(5)ha(-1)day(-1), respectively. However, all tested-plant species showed the same pattern on the plant-biomass production yield and removal efficiency. The highest SS, BOD, COD, total phosphorus, NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-) and molasses pigments (MP) removal efficiencies of 90-93%, 88-89%, 67%, 70-76%, 77-82%, 94-95% and 72-77%, respectively were detected under the OLR of 612 kg BOD(5)ha(-1)day.