Performance of an upflow anaerobic reactor combining a sludge blanket and a filter treating sugar waste

A new hybrid reactor, the upflow blanket filter (UBF), which combined on open volume in the bottom two-thirds of the reactor for a sludge blanket and submerged plastic rings (Flexiring, Koch Inc., 235 m(2)/m(3)) in the upper one-third of the reactor volume, was studied. This UBF reactor was operated at 27 degrees C at loading rates varying from 5 to 51 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L d with soluble sugar wastewater (2500 mg COD/L). Maximum removal rates of 34 g COD/L d and CH(4) production rates of 7 vol/vol d [standard temperature and pressure (STP)] were obtained. The biomass activity was about 1.2 g COD/g volatile suspended solids per day. Conversion (based on effluent soluble COD) was over 93% with loading rates up to 26 g COD/L d. At higher loading rates conversion decreased rapidly. The packing was very efficient in retaining biomass.     

Applications of Anammox based processes to treat anaerobic digester supernatant at room temperature

The supernatant of an anaerobic digester was treated at 20 °C in two systems. The first one is a two units configuration, conformed by two sequencing batch reactors (SBR), carrying out partial nitrification and Anammox processes, respectively. Partial nitrification was achieved by granular biomass with a mean diameter of 3 mm, operating at a dissolved oxygen concentration of 2.7 mg/L. The combined system allowed the removal of nitrogen loading rates around 0.08 g N/(L d).     

Anaerobic treatment of starch-containing wastewater using a plate-column reactor

An anaerobic plate-column reactor, developed to retain a high concentration of biomass, was studied using starch-containing synthetic wastewaters with regard to its start-up profile and the effects of TOC-loading rate, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and temperature in a steasy state. Each operation was started up at an initial biomass concentration of ca. 0.5 mg-N/ml (ca. 5 mg-VSS/ml), 20°C, an HRT of 30 h, and a TOC-loading rate of 0.8 g/l/d. The removal defficiency of dissolved organic carbon exceeded 90% after 29 d. The efficiency reached a steady state at 98% removal after 116 d. The biomass concentration in the reactor was 2.3 mg-N/ml after 154 d. Circulation of effluent at a ratio of 1 gave a lower removal efficiency and a lower biomass concentration than the same reactor without circulation. The effect of TOC-loading rate was studied at an HRT of 30 h, 20°C, and removal efficiencies were found 91% at 1.6 g/l/d and 77% at 3.2 g/l/d. The effect of HRT was studied at a TOC-loading rate of 0.8 g/l/d, 20°C, and removal efficiencies 91% at an HRT of 12 h and 72% at an HRT of 6 h.     

Population dynamics and production of Daphnia hyalina in a eutrophic reservoir

The population dynamics and production of Daphnia hyaiina^ the dominant cladoceran i n Eglwys Nynydd, a shallow eutrophic reservoir in South Wales, were studied for 2 years against a background of limnological measurements. The appearance and development of successive generations from egg to adult could be followed from changing numbers in arbitrarily defined size classes. Seasonal variations in mean length, mean brood-size and proportion of gravid adults were recorded and mean brood-size was related to changing food and temperature conditions. Egg-development times for D. hyaiina were determined in culture and the population parameters finite birth (S), instantaneous birth (b′), instantaneous population change (r′), instantaneous death (d′) and finite death rates (D) were estimated from field data. Turnover and production estimates were calculated from finite death rates and biomass. The calculated potential rate of increase (b′) was nearly always greater than the observed rate of increase (r′): seasonal changes in death rate (d′) generally parallel changes in birth rate (b′) but remain somewhat out of phase. Population oscillations are probably due t o a delay in the expression of the effects of population density upon birth and death rates. The mean biomass of Daphnia in 1970 was 0-57 mg dry wt/l (0-88 g C/m²) and in 1971 0-32 mg dry wt/l (0.49 g C/m²). Annual production for Daphnia was 11-8 mg dry wt/l (18-2 g C/m²) in 1970 and 8-30 mg dry wt/l (12 8 g C/m²) in 1971. Information available on primary production in the reservoir suggests that the production of Daphnia accounts for less than 2% of gross primary production. However, the pattern of population growth of Daphnia in Eglwys Nynydd almost certainly reflects a food limited system. In summer, blue-green algae may be abundant but serve as a poor food source: throughout the blue-green bloom egg production remains low, at times remaining below 0-5 eggs/adult.     

利用市政污水培养Chlorella vulgaris生产生物柴油

为了考察利用南昌市政污水规模化培养富油微藻生产生物柴油,同时达到净化污水的目的,取南昌市青山湖污水处理厂未经任何处理的市政污水作为普通小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)生长的培养液。监测了C.vulgaris在市政污水中连续培养10 d的特定生长率、生物质产量以及与之相关的市政污水中氨氮(NH4+-N)、总磷(TP)、化学需氧量(COD)、总悬浮固体(TSS)和挥发性悬浮固体(VSS)的清除情况。实验表明:营养物质的水平显著地影响了C.vulgaris的生长。C.vulgaris的生长率在培养8 d后达到最大,OD680为2.856,总的生物质产量日均最大积累速率为0.01 g/L,油脂含量为干质量的18%,油脂的平均日产量为0.001 g/L。培养10 d内NH4+-N、TP和COD的去除率分别为50.0%、32.1%和26.0%,TSS和VSS的日平均去除速率分别为0.01 g/L和0.006 1 g/L。     

Nitrogen removal performance of a hybrid anammox reactor

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process has attracted considerable attention in recent years as an alternative to conventional nitrogen removal technologies. In this study, an innovative hybrid reactor combining fluidized and fixed beds for anammox treatment was developed. The fluidized bed was mechanically stirred and the gaseous product could be rapidly released from the anammox sludge to prevent washout of the sludge caused by floatation. The fixed bed comprising a non-woven biomass carrier could efficiently catch sludge to reduce washout. During the operation, nitrogen loading rates to the reactor were increased to 27.3 kg N/m³/d, with total nitrogen removal efficiencies of 75%. The biomass concentration in the fluidized bed reached 26-g VSS/L. Anammox granules were observed in the reactors, with settling velocities and sludge volumetric index of 27.3 ± 6.5 m/h and 23 mL/g, respectively. Quantification of extracellular polymeric substances revealed the anammox granules contained a significant amount of extracellular proteins.     

利用平板反应器大量培养高产油绿藻——尖状栅藻的生长和油脂积累规律

以新近分离的淡水绿藻--尖状栅藻(Scenedesmus acuminatus)为研究对象,将改良的BG-11培养基中的初始NaNO₃浓度降低为6.0mmol/L和3.6mmol/L,利用新设计的内置拉筋平板式光生物反应器对尖状栅藻(S. acuminatus)进行大量培养。测定不同时相的生物量、总脂含量、脂组分含量及脂肪酸组成和含量,分析尖状栅藻(S. acuminatus)大量培养时的生长和油脂积累规律。当初始NaNO₃浓度为6mmol/L时其最高生物量(6.27g/L)明显高于初始NaNO₃浓度为3.6mmol/L时的生物量(5.30g/L);而最高的总脂含量在初始NaNO₃浓度为3.6mmol/L时获得为干重的56.6%,高于初始NaNO₃浓度为6mmol/L时的总脂含量(51.6%)。总脂经硅胶柱层析分级后得到三种类型的脂组分:中性脂、糖脂和磷脂,随着培养时间的延长中性脂含量逐渐增加,培养至18d后,中性脂的含量分别达到总脂的 90.9%(6 mmol/L NaNO₃)和 92.0%(3.6 mmol/L NaNO₃)及干重的 47.5%(6.0 mmol/L NaNO₃)和 51.4%(3.6 mmol/L NaNO₃)。主要脂肪酸组成为棕榈酸、棕榈油酸、硬脂酸、油酸、亚麻油酸和亚麻酸,这六种脂肪酸在不同时相的含量变化范围分别为89.92%~96.18%(占总脂肪酸)和12.5%~50.7%(占细胞干重)。总脂、中性脂及总脂肪酸单位体积产率分别为:0.18 g/L/d,0.16 g/L/d和0.15 g/L/d(6.0 mmol/L NaNO₃)及0.16 g/L/d,0.15 g/L/d和0.15 g/L/d(3.6 mmol/L NaNO₃)。研究结果表明,尖状栅藻(S. acuminatus)是一株易于规模化培养、脂肪酸组成适合于生物柴油生产的高产油微藻。     

Biosorption of chromium(VI) by spent cyanobacterial biomass from a hydrogen fermentor using Box-Behnken model

The study explores utilization of waste cyanobacterial biomass of Nostoc linckia from a lab-scale hydrogen fermentor for the biosorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The biomass immobilized in alginate beads was used for removal of the metal in batch mode optimizing the process conditions adopting response surface methodology (RSM). Kinetic studies were done to get useful information on the rate of chromium adsorption onto the cyanobacterial biomass, which was found to follow pseudo second-order model. Four important process parameters including initial metal concentration (10-100 mg/L), pH (2-6), temperature (25-45 °C) and cyanobacterial dose (0.1-2.0 g) were optimized to obtain the best response of Cr(VI) removal using the statistical Box-Behnken design. The response surface data indicated maximum Cr(VI) biosorption at pH 2-4 with different initial concentrations of the metal in the aqueous solution. The biosorbent could remove 80-90% chromium from solutions with initial metal concentration of 10-55 mg/L. Involvement of the surface characteristics of the biomass was studied through its scanning electron micrographs and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis.     

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%。     

Simultaneous single-cell protein production and COD removal with characterization of residual protein and intermediate metabolites during whey fermentation by K. marxianus

Cheese whey fermentation with Kluyveromyces marxianus was carried out at 40 °C and pH 3.5 to examine simultaneous single-cell protein production and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, determine the fate of soluble whey protein and characterize intermediate metabolites. After 36 h of batch fermentation, the biomass concentration increased from 2.0 to 6.0 g/L with 55 % COD reduction (including protein), whereas soluble whey protein concentration decreased from 5.6 to 4.1 g/L. It was confirmed through electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) that the fermented whey protein was different from native whey protein. HPLC and GC–MS analysis revealed a change in composition of organic compounds post-fermentation. High inoculum concentration in batch fermentation resulted in an increase in biomass concentration from 10.3 to 15.9 g/L with 80 % COD reduction (including protein) within 36 h with residual protein concentration of 4.5 g/L. In third batch fermentation, the biomass concentration increased from 7.3 to 12.4 g/L with 71 % of COD removal and residual protein concentration of 4.3 g/L after 22 h. After 22 h, the batch process was shifted to a continuous process with cell recycle, and the steady state was achieved after another 60 h with biomass yield of 0.19 g biomass/g lactose and productivity of 0.26 g/L h. COD removal efficiency was 78–79 % with residual protein concentration of 3.8–4.2 g/L. The aerobic continuous fermentation process with cell recycle could be applied to single-cell protein production with substantial COD removal at low pH and high temperature from cheese whey.     

The importance of seed reserves for seedling performance: an integrated approach using morphological,physiological, and stable isotope techniques

To investigate how seed reserves affect early seedling performance, we conducted a factorial greenhouse experiment using Lithocarpus densiflora (Tanoak). Seedlings were grown from large (5.8±0.7 g) and small (3.2±0.4 g) seeds and, following shoot emergence, seeds were either removed or left attached. Seedlings were harvested for quantification of biomass and ¹³C at seven time periods following seed removal (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 days) and seedling photosynthesis was measured three separate time periods (2–4, 49–82, 95–128 days after seed removal). Biomass increased for all seedlings, but the increase was significantly larger for seedlings with attached seeds than with removed seeds. Seed removal just after shoot emergence significantly decreased seedling biomass, but seed removal 64 days after shoot emergence had no effect on seedling biomass. Seedling photosynthesis per unit leaf area varied by time and seed presence, but not by seed size. At the first period, seedlings with attached seeds had significantly higher photosynthetic rates than seedlings with removed seeds, at the second period there was no effect of seed removal, and at the third time period seedlings with attached seeds had significantly lower photosynthetic rates than seedlings with removed seeds. Despite temporal variation in photosynthesis per unit leaf area, seedlings with attached seeds always had significantly greater leaf area than seedlings with removed seeds, resulting in significantly higher total plant photosynthesis at all three time periods. The ¹³C values of both the leaves and roots were more similar to that of the seed for seedlings with attached seeds than for seedlings with removed seeds, however, seed removal and seed size strongly affected root ¹³C. This study demonstrates that seed reserves have important effects on the early growth, physiology, and ¹³C of L. densiflora seedlings.     

L(-)-carnitine production using a recombinant Escherichia coli strain

The L(-)-carnitine production by biotransformation using the recombinant strain Escherichia coli pT7-5KE32 has been studied and optimized with crotonobetaine and D(+)-carnitine as substrates. A resting rather than a growing cells system for L(-)-carnitine production was chosen, crotonobetaine being the best substrate. High biocatalytic activity was obtained after growing the cells under anaerobic conditions at 37°C and with crotonobetaine or L(-)-carnitine as inducer. The growth incubation temperature (37°C) was high enough as to activate the heat-inducible λp_L promoter inserted in the plasmid pGP1-2. The best biotransformation conditions were with resting cells, under aerobiosis, with 4 g l⁻¹ and 100 mM biomass and substrate concentrations respectively. Under these conditions the biotransformation time (1 h) was shorter and the L(-)-carnitine yield (70%) higher than previously reported. Consequently productivity value (11.3 g l⁻¹h⁻¹) was highly improved when comparing with other published works. The resting cells could be reused until eight times maintaining product yield levels well over 50% that meant to increase ten times the L(-)-carnitine obtained per gram of biomass.     

Biosorption of reactive dye by waste biomass of Nostoc linckia

Potential of spent biomass of a cyanobacterium, Nostoc linckia HA 46, from a hydrogen bioreactor was studied for biosorption of a textile dye, reactive red 198. The waste biomass was immobilized in calcium alginate and used for biosorption of the dye from aqueous solution using response surface methodology (RSM). Kinetics of the dye in aqueous solution was studied in batch mode. Interactive effects of initial dye concentration (100-500 mg/L), pH (2-6) and temperature (25-45 °C) on dye removal were examined using Box-Behnken design. Maximum adsorption capacity of the immobilized biomass was 93.5 mg/g at pH 2.0, initial concentration of 100 mg/L and 35 °C temperature, when 94% of the dye was removed. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies revealed that biosorption was mainly mediated by functional groups like hydroxyl, amide, carboxylate, methyl and methylene groups present on the cell surface.     

Ozone as a selective disinfectant for nonaseptic fungal cultivation on corn-processing wastewater

Treatment of wet corn-milling wastewater with filamentous fungi was investigated as a means of obtaining fungal biomass as an additional byproduct. Competitive bacterial growth is a common problem during this nonaseptic treatment process. Selective disinfection with ozone was evaluated for eliminating bacterial populations during fungal cultivation. Three laboratory-scale continuous flow aerated reactors were operated under nonaseptic conditions at 38 degrees C, hydraulic retention time of 8h and pH of 4. The bacterial population was reduced by one log with respect to the control when ozone was dosed at a concentration above 47+/-2mg/L. An ozone dosage of about 57mg/L was found to be most effective in improving both fungal biomass production and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal (up to 90%). Fungal biomass concentration increased from c. 1.45g/L (control) to c. 1.75g/L at a 57-mg/L ozone dosage. Higher and lower dosages of ozone resulted in poorer fungal growth and lower SCOD removal.     

一株高产淀粉绿藻——标志链带藻在废水中的培养及对氮磷的去除

为了研究标志链带藻(Desmodesmus insignis strain JNU24)在不同Na NO3浓度和不同废水浓度培养下的生长与代谢产物积累状况,评估标志链带藻对废水的处理能力,本研究利用柱状光反应器对标志链带藻进行培养,分别对4种Na NO3浓度的BG-11培养基和4种废水浓度培养下藻细胞的生物量、蛋白质含量、碳水化合物含量和淀粉含量进行了测定。结果显示,在BG-11培养基中,氮浓度为9.0 mmol/L时,藻细胞生物质浓度最高,达6.23 g/L;在废水培养下,未稀释的原废水实验组,其藻细胞生物质浓度最高,达10.31 g/L;75%废水培养下,藻细胞的淀粉含量最高(达50.9%),单位体积藻细胞淀粉含量和产率分别为4.86 g/L和405 mg·L~(-1)·d~(-1),且显著高于不同浓度Na NO3的BG-11培养基组。本研究还测定了标志链带藻对废水中氮、磷的去除效率,结果显示不同浓度废水培养下,氮、磷的去除效率最高可达90.8%和98.7%。基于柱状反应器中的最佳培养效果,以9.0 mmol/L Na NO3的BG-11培养基和75%废水于3.0 cm光径平板光生物反应器中进行室内扩大培养,结果显示在75%废水培养下,藻细胞生物质浓度达9.75 g/L,淀粉单位体积含量和产率分别达到4.75 g/L和230 mg·L~(-1)·d~(-1),且为9.0 mmol/L Na NO3的BG-11培养基培养的3倍。通过沉降特性分析发现,藻细胞收获90 min后均完全沉降,具有较强的沉降性能。本研究标志链带藻能够耐受废水中较高的氮、磷浓度,且对废水中氮、磷有显著的去除作用;该藻能利用废水中的营养成分积累较高的生物量和淀粉含量并且藻细胞能快速沉降,具有极高的经济价值和应用价值,是一株淀粉生产能力较高和废水处理能力较强的极具开发潜力的藻株。     

Effect of COD to sulphate ratio and temperature in expanded-granular-sludge-blanket reactors for sulphate reduction

In an ethanol-fed expanded-granular-sludge-blanket (EGSB) reactor at 33°C, 80–90% of the sulphate load was removed at a rate of 4 g S/l d, provided that at least 6 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) per g sulphate-sulphur was supplied. The reactor started up in a matter of days. Gradually decreasing the ethanol to sulphate ratio (R) to about stoichiometry, resulted in 60–70% sulphate removal at rates of 7 g S/l d. Similar tendencies were observed with ethylene glycol as sole carbon and energy source. Total COD removal never reached more than 70–75%. This was related to a rather high biomass washout. The sulphate removal efficiency decrease when R was set at levels below 6, apparently because sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) could not compete with methane producing bacteria (MPB) for acetate produced from the substrate dosed. Thermophilic operation at 55°C, after a stepwise increase in the reactor temperature over a period of 23 days, did not favour acetotrophic sulphate reduction. Yet, operation at 48°C and subsequently returning the temperature to 33°C clearly enhanced acetate conversion by SRB. In the case of an electron donor price of 0.035–0.075 USD/kg COD, the cost for operation at R=6 was found to be competitive to that at stoichiometry, i.e. R=2, provided the biogas produced was effectively used.     

Sulfidogenic fluidized bed treatment of real acid mine drainage water

The treatment of real acid mine drainage water (pH 2.7-4.3) containing sulfate (1.5-3.34 g/L) and various metals was studied in an ethanol-fed sulfate-reducing fluidized bed reactor at 35 °C. The robustness of the process was tested by increasing stepwise sulfate, ethanol and metal loading rates and decreasing feed pH and hydraulic retention time. Highest sulfate reduction rate (4.6 g/L day) was obtained with feed sulfate concentration of 2.5 g/L, COD/sulfate ratio of 0.85 and HRT of 12 h. The corresponding sulfate and COD removal efficiencies were about 90% and 80%, respectively. The alkalinity produced in sulfidogenic ethanol oxidation neutralized the acidic mine water. Highest metal precipitation efficiencies were observed at HRT of 24 h, the percent metal removal being over 99.9% for Al (initial concentration 55 mg/L), Co (9.0 mg/L), Cu (49 mg/L), Fe (435 mg/L), Ni (3.8 mg/L), Pb (7.5 mg/L) and Zn (6.6 mg/L), and 94% for Mn (7.21 mg/L).     

Use of the UASB reactor for the anaerobic treatment of stillage from sugar cane molasses

The feasibility of applying the UASB concept for the anaerobic treatment of stillage of distilleries in the sugar producing area of Argentina was subject to study. Results obtained in a 100-L UASB reactor treating stillages with COD values between 35 and 100 g COD/L are presented. Loading rates of up to 24 g COD/L/day were applied with an average COD removal of 75% and a biogas production of more than 9 L/L/day, with an average methane content of 58%. The settling velocity distribution of sludge particles would indicate a good formation of biomass pellets. System interruptions of months without feed and at ambient temperature (20-24 degrees C) were well tolerated.     

不同培养基及组成对2种小球藻生长和油脂的影响

研究了4种培养基及组成对蛋白核小球藻F-9和普通小球藻HYS-2的生长、油脂积累和脂肪酸组成的影响。结果发现knop、Provasoli、f/2、MAV 4种培养基中,f/2培养基更有利于小球藻的快速生长,而MAV培养基更适合油脂积累。在f/2培养基中F-9和HYS-2相对生长速率分别为0.156和0.171,培养9 d细胞干重为0.188 g/L和0.195 g/L。而在MAV培养基中F-9油脂含量最高可达19.67%,HYS-2油脂含量最高为21.91%,脂肪酸最高分别占干重的5.11%和8.71%。N/P为16∶1时小球藻生长最快,培养9 d后F-9和HYS-2的相对生长速率分别为0.23和0.239,最终细胞干重分别为0.107 g/L和0.143 g/L。而F-9和HYS-2在N/P为1∶1条件下积累油脂和脂肪酸含量最高,总脂含量分别占干重的为20.40%和27.39%,总脂肪酸占藻粉干重的含量为12.52%和16.94%。     

Outdoor and indoor cultivation of Spirulina platensis in the extreme south of Brazil

Water supplemented with 10% or 20% (v/v) of Zarrouk medium was used to cultivate Spirulina platensis in closed and open bioreactors under controlled conditions (30 degrees C, 32.5 micromol m(-2) s(-1), 12 h light/dark photoperiod) and in a greenhouse (9.4 to 46 degrees C, up to 2800 micromol m(-2) s(-1), variable day length photoperiod) using different initial biomass concentrations (X0) in the extreme south of Brazil (32.05 degrees S, 52.11 degrees W). Under controlled conditions the maximum specific growth rate (micromax) was 0.102 d(-1), the biomass doubling time (t(d)) was 6.8 d, the maximum dry biomass concentration (Xmax) was 1.94 g L(-1) and the maximum productivity (Pmax) was 0.059 g L(-)1 d(-1), while the corresponding values in the greenhouse experiments were micromax = 0.322 d(-1), t(d) = 2.2 d, Xmax = 1.73 g L(-1) and Pmax = 0.112 g L(-1) d(-1). Under controlled conditions the highest values for these parameters occurred when X0 = 0.15 g L(-1), while in the greenhouse X0 = 0.4 g L(-1) produced the highest values. These results show that the cultivation of S. platensis in greenhouses in the extreme south of Brazil is technically viable and that the S. platensis inoculum and the concentration of Zarrouk medium can be combined in such a way as to obtain growth and productivity parameters comparable, or superior, to those occurring in bioreactors under controlled conditions of temperature, illuminance and photoperiod.