Kinetics of methane formation by granular sludge at low substrate concentrations

Summary Apparent K _m values for methanogenesis from volatile fatty acids by various sludge granules were determined from progress curve experiments. The influence of mass transfer resistance on the kinetics of methane formation in biofilms was demonstrated with the apparent K _m values thus obtained. It was shown that the effects of mass transfer resistance depend on the maximum specific activity of the biolayers and on their thickness. the data indicate that mass transfer resistance in methanogenic biolayers becomes only of significance at low substrate concentrations and in thick biolayers with high methanogenic activities.     

Effect of influent substrate ratio on anammox granular sludge: performance and kinetics

Effect of influent substrate ratio on anammox process was studied in sequencing batch reactor. Operating temperature was fixed at 35 ± 1 °C. Influent pH and hydraulic retention time were 7.5 and 6 h, respectively. When influent NO₂ ^?-N/NH₄ ⁺-N was no more than 2.0, total nitrogen removal rate (TNRR) increased whereas NH₄ ⁺-N removal rate stabilized at 0.32 kg/(m³ d). ΔNO₂ ^?-N/ΔNH₄ ⁺-N increased with enhancing NO₂ ^?-N/NH₄ ⁺-N. When NO₂ ^?-N/NH₄ ⁺-N was 4.5, ΔNO₂ ^?-N/ΔNH₄ ⁺-N was 1.98, which was much higher than theoretical value (1.32). The IC₅₀ of NO₂ ^?-N was 289 mg/L and anammox activity was inhibited at high NO₂ ^?-N/NH₄ ⁺-N ratio. With regard to influent NH₄ ⁺-N/NO₂ ^?-N, the maximum NH₄ ⁺-N removal rate was 0.36 kg/(m³ d), which occurred at the ratio of 4.0. Anammox activity was inhibited when influent NH₄ ⁺-N/NO₂ ^?-N was higher than 5.0. With influent NO₃ ^?-N/NH₄ ⁺-N of 2.5–6.5, NH₄ ⁺-N removal rate and NRR were stabilized at 0.33 and 0.40 kg/(m³ d), respectively. When the ratio was higher than 6.5, nitrogen removal would be worsened. The inhibitory threshold concentration of NO₂ ^?-N was lower than NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^?-N. Anammox bacteria were more sensitive to NO₂ ^?-N than NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^?-N. TNRR would be enhanced with increasing nitrogen loading rate, but sludge floatation occurred at high nitrogen loading shock. The Han-Levenspiel could be applied to simulate nitrogen removal resulting from NO₂ ^?-N inhibition.     

厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥聚集机制研究进展

厌氧氨氧化(anaerobic ammonium oxidation,anammox)工艺被认为是当前污水生物脱氮领域最经济的处理工艺,有利于实现污水处理厂的能源自给。厌氧氨氧化菌是该工艺的核心功能微生物。以厌氧氨氧化菌为主导微生物形成的厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥具有沉速大、污泥持留能力强及对不利环境抵抗能力强等突出优势,是实现厌氧氨氧化工艺最有前景的污泥形态。本论文围绕厌氧氨氧化颗粒,介绍了厌氧氨氧化菌的特性、种类及代谢途径,综述了厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥的形成假说及与厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥聚集密切相关的胞外聚合物(extracellular polymeric substance,EPS)和群体感应研究现状,并对今后厌氧氨氧化颗粒的研究进行了展望,以期为后续厌氧氨氧化颗粒的研究及厌氧氨氧化颗粒工艺的优化提供参考。     

保藏温度对厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥特性的影响

为考察保藏温度对厌氧氨氧化污泥颗粒特性的影响,同时优化保藏厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥温度参数,本试验首先通过HRT调控进水基质负荷培养厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥,并采用KHCO3和Na HCO3交替提供无机碳源。然后分别在–40℃、4℃、(27±4)℃室温和35℃条件下避光保藏。结果表明,Na HCO3可代替KHCO3作为厌氧氨氧化菌生长的无机碳源。相比于其他保藏温度,4℃保藏能够较好地维持生物量和生物活性,同时能较好地维持颗粒污泥的沉降性能、颗粒污泥和细胞结构完整性。在保藏过程中,一阶衰减指数模型可拟合厌氧氨氧化颗粒污泥生物量及活性的衰减过程,衰减指数与胞溶程度正相关,而且生物量的衰减比活性的衰减更快。同时,颗粒污泥胞外聚合物中蛋白质与多糖的比值(PN/PS)和血红素不能有效指示保藏过程中颗粒污泥沉降性能和活性的变化,而生物活性与胞溶程度呈负相关。     

Diversity of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in a granular sludge anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) reactor

The ammonium-oxidizing microbial community was investigated in a granular sludge anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) reactor that was operated for about 1 year with high anaerobic ammonium oxidation activity (up to 0.8 kg NH(4)(+)-N m(-3) day(-1)). A Planctomycetales-specific 16S rRNA gene library was constructed to analyse the diversity of the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). Most of the specifically amplified sequences (15/16) were similar to each other (> 99%) but were distantly related to all of the previously recognized sequences (< 94%), with the exception of an unclassified anammox-related clone, KSU-1 (98%). An ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene library was also analysed to investigate the diversity of 'aerobic' ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AAOB) from the beta-Proteobacteria. Most of the amoA gene fragments (53/55) clustered in the Nitrosomonas europaea-Nitrosococcus mobilis group which has been reported to prevail under oxygen-limiting conditions. The quantitative results from real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification showed that the dominant AnAOB comprised approximately 50% of the total bacterial 16S rRNA genes in the reactor, whereas the AAOB of beta-Proteobacteria represented only about 3%. A large fragment (4008 bp) of the rRNA gene cluster of the dominant AnAOB (AS-1) in this reactor sludge was sequenced and compared with sequences of other Planctomycetales including four anammox-related candidate genera. The partial sequence of hydrazine-oxidizing enzyme (hzo) of dominant AnAOB was also identified using new designed primers. Based on this analysis, we propose to tentatively name this new AnAOB Candidatus'Jettenia asiatica'.     

Potential cause of aerobic granular sludge breakdown at high organic loading rates

Aerobic sludge granules are compact, strong microbial aggregates that have excellent settling ability and capability to efficiently treat high-strength and toxic wastewaters. Aerobic granules disintegrate under high organic loading rates (OLR). This study cultivated aerobic granules using acetate as the sole carbon and energy source in three identical sequencing batch reactors operated under OLR of 9–21.3 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) m⁻³ day⁻¹. The cultivated granules removed 94–96% of fed COD at OLR up to 9–19.5 kg COD m⁻³ day⁻¹, and disintegrated at OLR of 21.3 kg COD m⁻³ day⁻¹. Most tested isolates did not grow in the medium at >3,000 mg COD l⁻¹; additionally, these strains lost capability for auto-aggregation and protein or polysaccharide productivity. This critical COD regime correlates strongly with the OLR range in which granules started disintegrating. Reduced protein quantity secreted by isolates was associated with the noted poor granule integrity under high OLR. This work identified a potential cause of biological nature for aerobic granules breakdown.     

好氧颗粒污泥对不同底物组成的响应

在序批式间歇反应器（R1、R2和R3）中,采用乙酸钠（R1）、蔗糖（R2）和苯酚（R3）三种不同基质作为碳源,均成功地培养出了好氧颗粒污泥;考察了不同颗粒污泥的理化性质及其对污染物的转化能力。结果表明,R1中颗粒污泥外观呈黄色,其主要的微生物菌群为细菌;R2中颗粒污泥外观呈黑色,内部含有丝状菌;而R3中颗粒污泥表面被大量丝状菌包裹,颗粒污泥呈淡黄色。在进水COD1000mg／L时R1、R2和R3中颗粒污泥比有机物的利用速率大小顺序为R3〉R1〉R2,而COD的去除率顺序却为R2〉R1〉R3。在进水氨氮40mg／L时,R1、R2和R3中氨氮的去除率分别在91％、96％和80％以上。以不同的底物培养出不同的好氧颗粒污泥可以拓展其在有毒化学物质如酚类化合物和高浓度工业废水生物处理中的应用。     

Growth and spore formation in Bacillus thuringiensis at high substrate concentrations

The work was aimed at studying the effect exerted by elevated concentrations of glucose, yeast extract and acetate on the growth of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae, strain 69-6, and on the formation of spores and crystals by it. Glucose concentrations from 30 to 100 g per litre did not prevent spore formation. Yeast extract inhibited spore formation to a greater extent and stopped it almost completely at a concentration of 20 g per litre. Acetate at a concentration of 1.0 to 10 g per litre delayed spore formation and produced a less action on crystal formation, so that those processes were uncoupled in time.     

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test for thickened sludge using anaerobic granular sludge at different inoculum/substrate ratios

The biochemical methane potential (BMP) test for thickened sludge was evaluated at three different inoculum/substrate (I:S) ratios. The cumulative methane yield was 51.4 mL CH₄/g VS_added at an I:S ratio of 1:1, 76.3 mL CH₄/g VS_added at an I:S ratio of 1:3, and 21.9 mL CH₄/g VS_added at an I:S ratio of 1:8. The greatest ultimate methane yield and methane production rate constant were achieved at an I:S ratio of 1:3, whereas the least was obtained at an I:S ratio of 1:8. The maximum methane production rate constant was 0.38/day and the minimum methane production rate constant was 0.0016/day. For the case of a lower I:S ratio, the biomass activity may be affected due to the low substrate concentration. On the other hand, for the case of higher I:S ratios, anaerobic digestion of thickened sludge was inhibited by higher concentrations of volatile fatty acids and lower pH.     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sorbitol-fatty acid esters at extremely high substrate concentrations

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sorbitol-fatty acid esters was performed in eutectic media with extremely high substrate concentrations. Homogeneous eutectic melts of sorbitol and fatty acids of C6-C16 were prepared using an adjuvant mixture. Enhanced homogeneity of mixtures was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The substrate concentration was 3.63-6.67 M in the eutectic media, whereas in organic media the concentration was below 0.10 M. Esters were synthesized with an immobilized Candida antarctica lipase, and optimum conditions were analyzed. Compared to reactions in organic media, the initial reaction rate of ester synthesis and the overall productivity were significantly enhanced in eutectic media while the conversion yields were similar. Based on the kinetic analysis, highly viscous eutectic media were shown to influence the initial reaction rate and the apparent activation energy resulting in diffusion limitations.     

Steroid transformation at high substrate concentrations using immobilized Corynebacterium simplex cells

The steroid transformation of hydrocortisone to prednisolone, combining the two techniques of immobilized whole cells and high steroid concentrations, was investigated and found to be a feasible process. Freeze-dried Corynebacterium simplex cells were immobilized in collagen, tanned with glutaraldehyde, and cast into a membrane. The reaction was studied at hydrocortisone concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 mg/ml. The following aspects of the system were examined: (1) the substrate concentration effect upon the reaction; (2) the effect of enzyme concentration; (3) the rate-concentration relationship; and (4) the product inhibition characteristics of the system. The optimal substrate concentration was found to be 15 mg/ml of a membrane concentration of 80 mg/ml. This reaction attained an 80% conversion in 48 hr. A liner relation was found between the initial reaction rate and membrane concentration. One can thus increase the net production of steroid per unit volume and time by increasing the membrane levels. A physical limit to this increase occurred at membrane concentrations greater than 125 mg/ml. The rate-concentration relationship was linear when graphed on a Line weaver-Burk plot: giving a K_m′ and V_m′ value of 5.39 mg/ml and 0.556 mg/ml/hr, respectively. When the data were tested for competitive product inhibition, the curves fitted the experimental points fairly well and produced K_m′ and V_m′ values of 4.52 mg/ml and 0.566 mg/ml/hr, respectively. Product inhibition experiments showed that the inhibition was not purely competitive. At low substrate concentrations, product inhibited the enzyme; at high substrate concentrations, the enzyme was first stimulated and then depressed by increasing levels of products. This behavior has been analyzed and shown to be possibly a result of the information of a tertiary intermediate produced during the reaction.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of fats at high substrate concentrations in biphasic organic-aqueous systems

The hydrolysis of palm oil and beef tallow by lipase has been studied for practical applications in a biphasis isooactane-aqueous system using a high substrate concentration. The effective lipase concentration for the hydrolysis was found to be about 120 IU per g of substrate. The addition of twenty percent isooctane brought about the most rapid reaction and produced the highest percentage of hydrolysis. For both palm oil and beef tallow, a percentage of hydrolysis higher than 98% was achieved in the 20% isooctane system at a higher concentration of 50%. However, when the substrate concentration was higher than 50%, the final value of hydrolysis decreased as the concentration of the substrate increased. Utilization of recycled lipase was attempted using an ultrafiltration membrane reactor. Approximately 60$% of the lipase activity was recoverable after each reaction.     

Aerobic granular sludge formation for high strength agro-based wastewater treatment

The present study investigates the formation of aerobic granular sludge in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with palm oil mill effluent (POME). Stable granules were observed in the reactor with diameters between 2.0 and 4.0 mm at a chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate of 2.5 kg COD m⁻³ d⁻¹. The biomass concentration was 7600 mg L⁻¹ while the sludge volume index (SVI) was 31.3 mL g SS⁻¹ indicating good biomass accumulation in the reactor and good settling properties of granular sludge, respectively. COD and ammonia removals were achieved at a maximum of 91.1% and 97.6%, respectively while color removal averaged at only 38%. This study provides insights on the development and the capabilities of aerobic granular sludge in POME treatment.     

Characterization of aerobic granular sludge at various organic loading rates

Aerobic granular sludge was cultivated from activated sludge with two types of supports, namely bivalve shell carrier (BSC) and anaerobic granules (ANG). Granules were characterized at different organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from 2.5 to 15 kg COD/m³ d and these granules were observed to withstand high OLRs. The physico-chemical characteristics of the aerobic granules were better than those of seed sludge. The granule formation with ANG support was found to be similar to that of non-support cultivation, i.e. formation from activated sludge only. By contrast, BSC support showed better performance in terms of faster settleability, compactness and especially resistance against organic shock loading. It also enabled self-cleaning effect by removing biofilm attached on the reactor wall during the start-up phase resulting rapid granulation process.     

Comparison of biological removal via nitrite with real-time control using aerobic granular sludge and flocculent activated sludge

The process of nitrification–denitrification via nitrite for nitrogen removal under real-time control mode was tested in two laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with flocculent activated sludge (R1) and aerobic granular sludge (R2) to compare operational performance and real-time control strategies. The results showed that the average ammonia nitrogen, total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal during aeration phase were 97.6%, 57.0%, and 90.1% in R2 compared with 98.6%, 48.7%, and 88.1% in R1. The TIN removed in both SBRs was partially due to the presence of simultaneous nitrification–denitrification via nitrite, especially in R2. The specific nitrification and denitrification rates in R2 were 0.0416 mgNH₄⁺–N/gSS-min and 0.1889 mgNO_X⁻–N/gSS-min, which were 1.48 times and 1.35 times that of R1. The higher rates for COD removal, nitrification, and denitrification were achieved in R2 than R1 with similar influent quality. Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and oxidization reduction potential, corresponding to nutrient variations, were used as diagnostic parameters to control the organic carbon degradation and nitrification–denitrification via nitrite processes in both SBRs. The online control strategy of granular SBR was similar to that of the SBR with flocculent activated sludge. However, a unique U-type pattern on the DO curve in granular SBR was different from SBR with flocculent activated sludge in aerobic phase.     

Characteristics of nitrogenous substrate conversion by anammox enrichment

The characteristics of nitrogenous substrates conversion by anammox enrichment were investigated using batch experiments. The anammox enrichment was proved able to convert hydroxylamine to hydrazine, as well as convert hydrazine to ammonia anaerobically, with the average conversion rates of 0.207 and 0.031 mmol gVSS⁻¹ h⁻¹. It could convert hydroxylamine and nitrite simultaneously, with ammonia as an intermediate product. The maximum conversion rates of hydroxylamine and nitrite were 0.535 and 0.145 mmol gVSS⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. Their conversion rates were enhanced by 26.7% and 120.7%, respectively, by raising the ratio of hydroxylamine to nitrite from 1:1 to 2:1. The characteristics of nitrogenous substrate conversion by anammox enrichment could be explained using the speculative anammox pathway based on van de Graaf model.     

高浓度底物下青霉素扩环酶的活性评价与底物抑制现象

本文对青霉素扩环酶(Penicillin expandase,也称Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase,DAOCS)在高浓度青霉素G下的底物抑制现象进行初步评价与表征,筛选适合工业应用条件的高活力突变体。我们通过HPLC对已报道的几个DAOCS高活力突变体在青霉素G浓度5.6至500 mmol/L间的比活力进行定量测定,并与不同催化反应动力学模型的理论推测变化趋势比较,发现DAOCS野生型酶及高活力突变体H4、H5、H6与H7在高浓度青霉素G条件下均表现出明显的底物抑制现象,但是变化趋势不同。野生型酶与突变体H4的比活力先上升后下降,与竞争性抑制模型预测不符。突变体H5、H6与H7的比活力变化呈现更复杂的变化趋势。在所有测试的突变体中,H6的活性显著高于其他突变体酶。青霉素G对野生型DAOCS的底物抑制现象符合非竞争性抑制模型的预测。而部分突变体表现出复杂的底物抑制行为,表明其具有更复杂的作用机制。在高底物浓度下筛选具有较强催化活性的青霉素扩环酶突变体对于推动其在工业生产中的应用具有重要指导作用。     

Causes and control of filamentous growth in aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactors

Poor long-term stability of aerobic granules developed in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) remains a limitation to widespread use of aerobic granulation in treating wastewater. Filamentous growth has been commonly reported in aerobic granular sludge SBR. This review attempts to address the instability problem of aerobic granular sludge SBR from the perspective of filamentous growth in the system. The possible causes of filamentous growth are identified, including long retention times of solids, low substrate concentration in the liquid phase, high substrate gradient within the granule, dissolved oxygen deficiency in the granule, nutrient deficiency inside granule, temperature shift and flow patterns. Because of cyclic operation of aerobic granular sludge SBR and peculiarities of aerobic granules, various stresses can be present simultaneously and can result in progressive development of filamentous growth in aerobic granular sludge SBR. Overgrowth of filamentous bacteria under stress conditions appears to be a major cause of instability of aerobic granular sludge SBR. Specific recommendations are made for controlling filamentous growth.     

Kinetic study of the cellobiase activity of Trichoderma reesei cellulase complex at high substrate concentrations

At high cellobiose concentrations, the cellobiase activity of a Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparation does not follow Michaelis–Menten kinetics and shows substrate inhibition. Several rate equations were fitted to the initial rate-cellobiose concentration data. The best fit is obtained for a rate equation corresponding to partial substrate inhibition of cellobiase. In this case, the K_m, V_max and K_I values obtained are 1.1 mM, 16 IU ml^–1 and 26 mM, respectively.