Identification of nitrifiers and nitrification performance in drinking water biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration

In this study laboratory scale biological activated carbon (BAC) columns were operated with water taken from a surface water reservoir in Istanbul. The aim was to evaluate the efficiency of nitrification in columns packed with two different granular activated carbon grades (open superstructure/chemically activated and closed superstructure/steam activated carbon) and to examine the probable beneficial effect of pre-ozonation. The occurrence and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were investigated using 16S rDNA and amoA gene based molecular techniques. Nearly complete removal of NH₄⁺-N was achieved by nitrification in both carbon types. The nitrification efficiency did not change in columns fed with ozonated water. However, the type of feed (either raw or ozonated) played a more important role than the type of GAC with respect to the dominance of nitrifier species in BAC columns. In biofilters ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were most closely related to Nitrosomonas spp. and Nitrospira spp. as determined by cloning and slot-blot analysis, respectively. The fraction of the AOB population in the biomass was high as detected by real-time PCR. The amoA/16S rDNA ratio varied from 28.7% to 2.1% along the depth of filters. In spite of similar removal efficiencies, BAC columns fed with ozonated water harbored different types of AOB than columns that were receiving raw water.     

Investigation on the mechanism of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S removal by biological activated carbon in a horizontal biotrickling filter

The use of supporting media for the immobilization of microorganisms is widely known to provide a surface for microbial growth and a shelter that protects the microorganisms from inhibitory compounds. In our previous studies, activated carbon (AC) alone used as a support medium for H₂S biological removal was proved prompt and efficient in a bench-scale biofilter and biotrickling filter. In this study, the mechanisms of H₂S elimination using microbial immobilized activated carbon, i.e., biological activated carbon (BAC), are investigated. A series of BAC as supporting medium were taken from the inlet to outlet of a bench-scale horizontal biotrickling filter to examine the different effects of physical/chemical adsorption and microbial degradation on the overall removal of H₂S. The surface properties of BAC together with virgin and exhausted carbon (after H₂S breakthrough test, non-microbial immobilization) were characterized using the sorption of nitrogen (Braunner–Emmett–Teller test), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface pH, thermal, carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen–sulfur (CHNS) elemental and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. Tests of porosity and surface area provide detailed information about the pore structure of BAC along the bed facilitating the understanding of potential pore blockages due to biofilm coating. A correlation between the available surface area and pore volume with the extent of microbial immobilization and H₂S uptake is evidenced. SEM photographs show the direct carbon structure and biofilm coated on carbon surface. FTIR spectra, differential thermogravimetric curves and CHNS results indicate less diversity of H₂S oxidation products on BAC than those previously observed on exhausted carbon from H₂S adsorption only. The predominant oxidation product on BAC is sulfuric acid, and biofilm is believed to enhance the oxidation of H₂S on carbon surface. The combination of biodegradation and physical adsorption of using BAC in removal of H₂S could lead to a long-term (i.e., years) good performance of biotrickling filters and biofilters based on BAC compared to carbon adsorption only.     

The effect of porosity of seiving particles on the romoval efficiency of organic substances via biofilter in the fixed bed

This paper was investigated to clarify the possibility of a biodegradation of materials adsorbed on different porous granular-activated carbons (GACs) such as coal-& coconut-based GAC. Total organic carbon, humic substance and ammonia were used to compare their removal efficiencies. The objective of this study is to determine the adsorption capacity of bioregenerated GAC. When raw water reacted with chloride, the yield of THMs increased as a function of the input amount of chloride. The formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) was investigated in water treated with chlorine when humic acid was used as THM precursor. As the input amount of chloride in raw water increased by two or five-fold to remove the NH₃, the chloroform of the THMs significantly increased also five or ten-fold. It was found that the chloroform was significantly removed by the treatment of biological activated carbon (BAC) in comparison with the ozone treatment, and the removal efficiency of THMs in coal-typed GAC was 10–30% better than coconut-typed GAC due to the biological degradation on the surface of the activated carbons.     

Effects of biofilm formation on membrane performance in submerged membrane bioreactors

The effects of biofilm formation on membrane performance were evaluated for a submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR) system with six different types of micro- and ultrafiltration membranes (working volume = 19 l). After operation for 24 h the permeability of the membranes with a larger pore size (microfiltration) decreased to that of the membranes with a much smaller pore size (ultrafiltration). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that biofilms could reduce the influence of the membrane surface properties. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was 95% for the oily wastewater treatment in the sMBR where the filtration process made an important contribution (47% based on feed COD). Significant enhancement in COD removal occurred at the initial filtration stage because of biofilm formation and the dynamic member role of the biofilm layer. Membranes with various pore sizes had approximately the same permeate quality that was attributed to the biofilm on the membrane surfaces. Nevertheless, the ultrafiltration membranes had 43% more COD removal efficiency than the other applied membranes at the beginning of filtration (before biofilm formation) because of the smaller pore sizes and better sieving.     

Changes of biomass and bacterial communities in biological activated carbon filters for drinking water treatment

Biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration can usually perform well in removal of biodegradable organic compounds in drinking waters. In this study, a pilot-scale down-flow BAC filtration system was constructed for treatment of ozonated waters. The changes of biomass concentration and bacterial community in the BAC filters with contact time and service time were characterized using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis, respectively. The operational results indicated the BAC filtration system could effectively remove dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC). Biomass concentration decreased with contact time, but showed only a slight change with service time. Contact time and service time could affect the microbial community structure. Alphaproteobacteria was the largest bacterial group and might have important links with the DOC and AOC removal. This work might provide some new insights into microbial community and biological process in the drinking water biofilters.     

Effects of biofilm formation on membrane performance in submerged membrane bioreactors

The effects of biofilm formation on membrane performance were evaluated for a submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR) system with six different types of micro- and ultrafiltration membranes (working volume=19 l). After operation for 24 h the permeability of the membranes with a larger pore size (microfiltration) decreased to that of the membranes with a much smaller pore size (ultrafiltration). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that biofilms could reduce the influence of the membrane surface properties. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was 95% for the oily wastewater treatment in the sMBR where the filtration process made an important contribution (47% based on feed COD). Significant enhancement in COD removal occurred at the initial filtration stage because of biofilm formation and the dynamic member role of the biofilm layer. Membranes with various pore sizes had approximately the same permeate quality that was attributed to the biofilm on the membrane surfaces. Nevertheless, the ultrafiltration membranes had 43% more COD removal efficiency than the other applied membranes at the beginning of filtration (before biofilm formation) because of the smaller pore sizes and better sieving.     

Heterogeneity of microbial community structures inside the up-flow biological activated carbon (BAC) filters for the treatment of drinking water

Filtration using biological activated carbon (BAC) performs well in the removal of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon from water sources. The application of ozonation followed by up-flow BAC filtration has gained increasing attention in the world scale. In this study, a pilotscale up-flow BAC filtration system was constructed for the treatment of polluted lake water. The operational results indicated that this BAC filtration system could effectively remove organic matter. Spatial heterogeneity of the microbial community structure inside the BAC filtration system was identified using bacterial 16S rRNA clone library analysis. A marked decrease of microbial diversity in the BAC filtration system was observed along the flow path. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria were found to be the major bacterial groups in the BAC filters. Moreover, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans-like microorganisms were detected. This work might add some new insights towards microbial communities in regards to BAC filtration for the treatment of drinking water.     

An innovative membrane bioreactor (MBR) system for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal

Membrane filtration was integrated with a post-denitrification process to form an innovative membrane bioreactor (MBR) system for effective organic degradation and nutrient (N and P) removal. The system comprised of an aerobic tank, an anoxic tank, an intermediate sedimentation tank, and a membrane filtration tank. The sedimentation tank functioned not only as a rough settler for sludge–water separation before membrane filtration but also as an anaerobic chamber for P release. While half of the influent flowed into the aerobic tank, the other half was fed into the anoxic tank to favor the proliferation of phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs). The experiment was conducted continuously for about 430 days. With a short overall treatment time of less than 10 h for municipal wastewater, the MBR-based process could achieve the total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus removals of around 94%, 85%, and 87%, respectively. The growth and activity of PAOs in the MBR system were evidenced by the significant P release in the anaerobic chamber followed by the luxury P uptake in the membrane tank. With the DAPI and PAO_mix probe staining, the increases of PAOs and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in sludge during the experiment were well observed under the fluorescent microscope.     

Application of biological activated carbon as a low pH biofilter medium for gas mixture treatment

Packing material is a crucial component of a bioreactor as it is the microbial population's habitat. This study assessed potential improvements to current biofiltration processes by investigating use of a novel support medium. Biological activated carbon (BAC) with microorganisms growing on granular activated carbon can produce a novel medium in which both adsorption and biodegradation contribute to pollutants removal. Investigation of carbon characteristics demonstrated that BAC was an ideal packing medium for biofiltration. The application of the novel packing medium for gas mixture treatment was evaluated in a low pH biofilter. Results demonstrated that BAC biofilter obtained high removal efficiency for both H(2)S and toluene. The removal mechanisms of BAC were investigated after the biofilter operation and it demonstrated that the performance of the BAC system was mainly controlled by the additive contributions of two removal mechanisms - adsorption and biodegradation. This study also indicated the potential for simultaneous treatment of hydrogen sulfide and toluene at low pH condition.     

Treatment of H2S using a horizontal biotrickling filter based on biological activated carbon: reactor setup and performance evaluation

Biological treatment is an emerging and prevalent technology for treating off-gases from wastewater treatment plants. The most commonly reported odorous compound in off-gases is hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which has a very low odor threshold. A self-designed, bench-scale, cross-flow horizontal biotrickling filter (HBF) operated with bacteria immobilized activated carbon (termed biological activated carbon—BAC), was applied for the treatment of H₂S. A mixed culture of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria dominated by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans acclimated from activated sludge was used as bacterial seed and the biofilm was developed by culturing the bacteria in the presence of carbon pellets in mineral medium. HBF performance was evaluated systematically over 120 days, depending on a series of changing factors including inlet H₂S concentration, gas retention time (GRT), pH of recirculation solution, upset and recovery, sulfate accumulation, pressure drop, gas-liquid ratio, and shock loading. The biotrickling filter system can operate at high efficiency from the first day of operation. At a volumetric loading of 900 m³ m^–3 h^–1 (at 92 ppmv H₂S inlet concentration), the BAC exhibited maximum elimination capacity (113 g H₂S/m^–3 h^–1) and a removal efficiency of 96% was observed. If the inlet concentration was kept at around 20 ppmv, high H₂S removal (over 98%) was achieved at a GRT of 4 s, a value comparable with those currently reported for biotrickling filters. The bacterial population in the acidic biofilter demonstrated capacity for removal of H₂S over a broad pH range (pH 1–7). A preliminary investigation into the different effects of bacterial biodegradation and carbon adsorption on system performance was also conducted. This study shows the HBF to be a feasible and economic alternative to physical and chemical treatments for the removal of H₂S.     

Effect of type of granular activated carbon on DOC biodegradation in biological activated carbon filters

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effect of the two different GAC types (steam activated or chemically activated) on DOC biodegradation in biological activated carbon (BAC) columns. For this purpose, raw water taken from a surface reservoir was fed to continuous-flow lab-scale biofiltration columns which were run for more than 18,000 bed volumes. The effect of pre-ozonation on DOC removal was also evaluated. Experimental results showed that biological activity inside the BAC columns extended the service life and the choice of filter material was crucial in BAC systems. The DOC biodegradation was higher in thermally activated carbon columns compared to the chemically activated one. The ability of GAC to better adsorb and retain organic compounds increased the chance of biodegradation. Contrary to expectations, pre-ozonation did not significantly enhance DOC biodegradation. Despite the high increase in biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) upon ozonation, overall DOC biodegradation efficiencies did not differ from raw water. Overall, the DOC biodegradation in columns was higher than in most of the studies. This observation was primarily attributed to the low specific ultraviolet absorption (SUVA) values in raw water indicating a high biodegradability.     

Retention of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in biological activated carbon filters for drinking water and the impact on ammonia reduction

Given the increasing discoveries related to the eco-toxicity of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) in different ecosystems and with respect to public health, it is important to understand their potential effects in drinking water treatment (DWT). The effects of TiO₂ NPs on ammonia reduction, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in biological activated carbon (BAC) filters for drinking water were investigated in static and dynamic states. In the static state, both the nitrification potential and AOB were significantly inhibited by 100 μg L^?1 TiO₂ NPs after 12 h (p < 0.05), and the threshold decreased to 10 μg L^?1 with prolonged exposure (36 h, p < 0.05). However, AOA were not considerably affected in any of the tested conditions (p > 0.05). In the dynamic state, different amounts of TiO₂ NP pulses were injected into three pilot-scale BAC filters. The decay of TiO₂ NPs in the BAC filters was very slow. Both titanium quantification and scanning electron microscope analysis confirmed the retention of TiO₂ NPs in the BAC filters after 134 days of operation. Furthermore, the TiO₂ NP pulses considerably reduced the performance of ammonia reduction. This study identified the retention of TiO₂ NPs in BAC filters and the negative effect on the ammonia reduction, suggesting a potential threat to DWT by TiO₂ NPs.     

Improved biological treatment of nitrogen-deficient wastewater by incorporation of N2-fixing bacteria

The N₂-fixing bacterium, Azotobacter vinelandii, was used both in single culture and in combination with activated sludge culture for the treatment of nitrogen-deficient wastewaters as an alternative to external nitrogen supplementation. Azotobacter-supplemented activated sludge culture removed more total organic carbon (TOC), especially at low initial TN/COD (total nitrogen/chemical oxygen demand) ratios, than the Azotobacter-free culture. Up to 95% TOC removal efficiencies were obtained with synthetic media of TN/COD<4 when Azotobacter was used singly or with activated sludge. The results indicated clear advantage of using Azotobacter in the activated sludge to improve TOC removal from nitrogen-deficient wastewaters.     

Free Cyanide Sorption on Freshwater Sediment and Model Components

The sorption of free cyanide (HCN) on mineral components of sediment, activated carbon, and a freshwater sediment was studied via batch experiments in synthetic freshwater at pH 6.4–7.6. It was found that free cyanide did not sorb to any significant extent on sediment mineral components, but did sorb strongly to activated carbon and moderately to a freshwater sediment. Results of experiments with 100 and 150 μ g/L free cyanide spike amounts resulted in no observed sorption to kaolin clay, Ottawa sand, or alumina in the synthetic freshwater. Extensive removal of free cyanide from the aqueous phase was observed in the partitioning experiments with the powdered activated carbon. Results with whole sediment indicated up to 46% removal of free cyanide from the aqueous phase in experiments with 20 and 50 μ g/L free cyanide. The organic-carbon-normalized distribution coefficient K_oc (= C_s/C_wf_oc) for free cyanide sorption on the activated carbon (f_oc = 1.0), 4.2 L/g_s, was similar to the K_oc value for free cyanide sorption on the freshwater sediment (f_oc = 0.0031), approximately 12.9 L/g_s. The results indicate that free cyanide can sorb to sediments with organic carbon content under freshwater conditions, primarily through interaction of HCN with organic carbon in the sediment.     

Adsorption and bioadsorption of granular activated carbon (GAC) for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal in wastewater

In this study, the performances of GAC adsorption and GAC bioadsorption in terms of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal were investigated with synthetic biologically treated sewage effluent (BTSE), synthetic primary treated sewage effluent (PTSE), real BTSE and real PTSE. The main aims of this study are to verify and compare the efficiency of DOC removal by GAC (adsorption) and acclimatized GAC (bioadsorption). The results indicated that the performance of bioadsorption was significantly better than that of adsorption in all cases, showing the practical use of biological granular activated carbon (BGAC) in filtration process. The most significance was observed at a real PTSE with a GAC dose of 5g/L, having 54% and 96% of DOC removal by adsorption and bioadsorption, respectively. In addition, it was found that GAC adsorption equilibrium was successfully predicted by a hybrid Langmuir-Freundlich model whilst integrated linear driving force approximation (LDFA)+hybrid isotherm model could describe well the adsorption kinetics. Both adsorption isotherm and kinetic coefficients determined by these models will be useful to model the adsorption/bioadsorption process in DOC removal of BGAC filtration system.     

Pyrosequencing analysis of bacterial communities in drinking water biofilters receiving influents of different types

Biological activated carbon (BAC) filters are commonly used in the world for improvement of drinking water quality. The indigenous microbiota in BAC filters can play a crucial role in reduction or biotransformation of contaminants. Molecular analysis can enhance our understanding of ecological functions of the microbial communities in drinking water BAC filters. In this study, three laboratory-scale drinking water BAC filters receiving influents of different types were constructed. Differences of bacterial communities in the three BAC filters were characterized using 454 pyrosequencing analysis. Pyrosequencing analysis illustrated the usefulness in elucidating the bacterial community structure in drinking water biofilter. High bacterial diversity in granular activated carbon (GAC) samples from each BAC biofilter was observed. Proteobacteria was the largest bacterial phylum in each GAC sample, with a marked shift of the proportions of Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria. The levels of dissolved organic carbon and ammonia nitrogen in the influents could affect the bacterial diversity and community composition in the BAC biofilters. This work might add some new insights into microbial community and its influential factors in drinking water biofilters.     

Influence of operation conditions and additives on the development of producer gas and tar reduction in air gasification of construction woody wastes using a two-stage gasifier

Air gasification was conducted with fractions of construction woody wastes in a two-stage gasifier, consisting of a fluidized bed zone and a tar cracking zone. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of reaction conditions and additives on the composition of producer gas and tar content in producer gas.A producer gas obtained with activated carbon of 540 g at an ER of 0.26 was mainly composed of H₂ (25 vol.%), CO (22 vol.%) and CH₄ (5 vol.%). Regarding tar removal efficiency, activated carbon was better than olivine. The tar removal rate with virgin activated carbon reached up to 80%. The reuse of spent activated carbon caused an efficiency loss in tar removal to some extent. Overall, it seems that the strong need for intensive downstream tar removal measurements can be removed with the use of a two-stage gasifier and the application of activated carbon.     

Response of photosynthesis and respiration of resurrection plants to desiccation and rehydration

Using non-invasive techniques (CO₂ gas exchange, light scattering, light absorption, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll luminescence), we have analysed the response of respiration and photosynthesis to dehydration and rehydration of leaves of the resurrection plants Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst., Ramonda mykoni Reichb. and Ceterach officinarum Lam. et DC. and of the drought-sensitive mesophyte spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). The following observations were made: (i) The rate of water loss during wilting of detached leaves of drought-tolerant resurrection plants was similar to that for leaves of the sensitive mesophyte, spinach. Leaves of Mediterranean xerophytes lost water much more slowly. (ii) Below a residual water content of about 20%, leaves of spinach did not recover turgor on rewatering, whereas leaves of the resurrection plants did. (iii) Respiration was less sensitive to the loss of water during wilting in the resurrection plants than in spinach. (iv) The sensitivity of photosynthesis to dehydration was similar in spinach and the resurrection plants. Up to a water loss of 50% from the leaves, photosynthesis was limited by stomatal closure, not by inhibition of reactions of the photosynthetic apparatus. Photosynthesis was inhibited and stomates reopened when loss of water became excessive. (v) After the leaves had lost 80% of their water or more, the light-dependent reactions of photosynthetic membranes were further inhibited by rewatering in spinach; they recovered in the resurrection plants. (vi) In desiccated leaves of the resurrection plants, slow rehydration reactivated mitochondrial gas exchange faster than photosynthetic membrane reactions. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation recovered only slowly.     

Characterization of membrane foulants in a pilot-scale powdered activated carbon–membrane bioreactor for drinking water treatment

The external and internal foulants of a pilot-scale powdered activated carbon–membrane bioreactor (PAC–MBR) used for drinking water treatment were systematically examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), three-dimensional excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy diffusive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The results showed that external fouling, which comprised 31.68% of the total fouling, was caused by the deposition of a large amount of biological PAC on the membrane surface. Bacteria and organic matter comprised only a small fraction of the external foulants. Biologically derived proteins and polysaccharides were the major constituents of the internal foulants. EDX analysis indicated that the external and internal foulants also included inorganic elements such as Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Mn and Fe. During the operation of PAC–MBR, low flux and effective physical cleaning protocols should be adopted; proteins, polysaccharides and inorganic elements in the bioreactor should also be controlled.     

Impacts of drinking water pretreatments on the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products

The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), including both nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) and carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs), was investigated by analyzing chlorinated water samples following the application of three pretreatment processes: (i) powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption; (ii) KMnO(4) oxidation and (iii) biological contact oxidation (BCO), coupled with conventional water treatment processes. PAC adsorption can remove effectively the precursors of chloroform (42.7%), dichloroacetonitrile (28.6%), dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm) (27.2%) and trichloronitromethane (35.7%), which were higher than that pretreated by KMnO(4) oxidation and/or BCO process. The removal efficiency of dissolved organic carbon by BCO process (76.5%)--was superior to that by PAC adsorption (69.9%) and KMnO(4) oxidation (61.4%). However, BCO increased the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentration which caused more N-DBPs to be formed during subsequent chlorination. Soluble microbial products including numerous DON compounds were produced in the BCO process and were observed to play an essential role in the formation of DCAcAm in particular.