Sequencing batch membrane biofilm reactor for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal: novel application of membrane-aerated biofilm

A sequencing batch membrane biofilm reactor (SBMBfR) was developed for simultaneous carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal from wastewater. This reactor was composed of two functional parts: (1) a gas-permeable membrane on which a nitrifying biofilm formed and (2) a bulk solution in which bacteria, mainly denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (DNPAOs), were suspended. The reactor was operated sequentially under anaerobic condition and then under membrane aeration condition in one cycle. During the anaerobic period, organic carbon was consumed by DNPAOs; this was accompanied by phosphate release. During the subsequent membrane aeration period, nitrifying bacteria utilized oxygen supplied directly to them from the inside of the membrane. Consequently, the nitrite and nitrate products diffused into the bulk solution, where they were used by DNPAOs as electron acceptors for phosphate uptake. In a long-term sequencing batch operation, the mean removal efficiencies of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (T-N), and total phosphorus (T-P) under steady-state condition were 99%, 96%, and 90%, respectively. In addition, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) clearly demonstrated the difference in bacterial community structure between the membrane biofilm and the suspended sludge: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Nitrosomonas group were dominant in the region adjacent to the membrane throughout the operation, and the occupation ratio of the well-known polyphosphate-accumulating organism (PAO) Candidatus "Accumulibacter phosphates" in the suspended sludge gradually increased to a maximum of 37%.     

Sensitivity analysis of a biofilm model describing a one-stage completely autotrophic nitrogen removal (CANON) process.

A mathematical model for nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) processes in a single biofilm reactor (CANON) was developed. This model describes completely autotrophic conversion of ammonium to dinitrogen gas. Aerobic ammonium and nitrite oxidation were modeled together with ANAMMOX. The sensitivity of kinetic constants and biofilm and process parameters to the process performance was evaluated, and the total effluent concentrations were, in general, found to be insensitive to affinity constants. Increasing the amount of biomass by either increasing biofilm thickness and density or decreasing porosity had no significant influence on the total effluent concentrations, provided that a minimum total biomass was present in the reactor. The ANAMMOX process always occurred in the depth of the biofilm provided that the oxygen concentration was limiting. The optimal dissolved oxygen concentration level at which the maximum nitrogen removal occurred is related to a certain ammonium surface load on the biofilm. An ammonium surface load of 2 g N/m2. d, associated with a dissolved oxygen concentration level of 1.3 g O2/m3 in the bulk liquid and with a minimum biofilm depth of 1 mm seems a proper design condition for the one-stage ammonium removal process. Under this condition, the ammonium removal efficiency is 94% (82% for the total nitrogen removal efficiency) (30 degrees C). Better ammonium removal could be achieved with an increase in the dissolved oxygen concentration level, but this would strongly limit the ANAMMOX process and decrease total nitrogen removal. It can be concluded that a one-stage process is probably not optimal if a good nitrogen effluent is required. A two-stage process like the combined SHARON and ANAMMOX process would be advised for complete nitrogen removal.     

进水碳氮比对CANON型人工湿地脱氮性能的影响

通过逐步提高进水中的有机碳源浓度,探讨进水碳氮比(C/N)对基于亚硝化的全程自养脱氮(CANON)型潮汐流人工湿地(TFCW)脱氮效能及其微生物特性的影响.结果表明: 进水C/N可显著影响CANON型TFCW中脱氮功能微生物的数量与活性,进而影响其氮素转化速率.当进水C/N由0.0增至6.0时,TFCW中反硝化功能基因的丰度随之增加,系统反硝化性能提高,TFCW中逐渐形成同步亚硝化、厌氧氨氧化与反硝化(SNAD)耦合反应体系,其脱氮效果得以强化.当进水C/N＞6.0时,好氧氨氧化菌活性受到抑制,数量逐渐减少,TFCW中的厌氧氨氧化作用与反硝化作用受阻,系统脱氮性能恶化.当进水C/N为6.0时,TFCW中的SNAD作用可得到最大限度的强化,其总氮(TN)去除率和去除负荷分别达(93.3±2.3)%和(149.30±8.00) mg·L^-1·d^-1,高于CANON系统中TN去除率的理论值.     

季节性温度变化对CANON型潮汐流人工湿地脱氮的影响

探究了温度的季节性变化对基于亚硝化的全程自养脱氮(CANON)型潮汐流人工湿地(TFCW)脱氮性能及其微生物特性的影响。CANON型TFCW中的脱氮微生物群落在温度的季节性变化下会发生不同程度的改变,其脱氮途径及性能随之会出现周期性的波动。填料层温度在20.0 ℃以上时对TFCW脱氮性能及其中的优势脱氮菌群无显著影响,CANON作用是系统脱氮的主要途径。当填料层温度低于20.0 ℃时,厌氧氨氧化菌丰度与活性显著降低,在9.3~20.0 ℃时,亚硝酸盐氧化菌(NOB)的增殖及其活性的提高使TFCW中脱氮的主要途径由CANON作用演替为硝化/反硝化作用,系统对总氮(TN)的去除率仅为(34.8±13.0)%;在2.2~9.0 ℃时,TFCW中的厌氧氨氧化菌在受到抑制的同时仍保持着对NOB和反硝化菌群的相对竞争优势,系统脱氮重新依赖于CANON作用,其对TN的去除率为(54.8±4.8)%。该研究可为CANON型TFCW工艺的优化及工程化应用提供参考。     

Effects of acetate and propionate on the performance of a photosynthetic biofilm reactor for sulfide removal

The effects of acetate and propionate on the performance of a recently proposed and characterized photosynthetic biological sulfide removal system have been investigated with a view to predicting this concept's suitability for removing sulfide from wastewater undergoing or having undergone anaerobic treatment. The concept relies on substratum-irradiated biofilms dominated by green sulfur bacteria (GSB), which are supplied with radiant energy in the band 720-780 nm. A model reactor was fed for 7 months with a synthetic wastewater free of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), after which time intermittent dosing of the wastewater with acetate or propionate was begun. Such dosing suppressed the areal net sulfide removal rate by approximately 50%, and caused the principal net product of sulfide removal to switch from sulfate to elemental-S. Similarly suppressed values of this rate were observed when the wastewater was dosed continuously with acetate, and this rate was not significantly affected by changes in the concentration of ammonia-N in the feed. The main net product of sulfide removal was again elemental-S, which was scarcely released into the liquid, however. Sulfate reduction and sulfur reduction were observed when the light supply was interrupted and were inferred to be occurring within the irradiated biofilm. A preexisting conceptual model of the biofilm was augmented with both of these reductive processes, and this augmented model was shown to account for most of the observed effects of VFA dosing. The implications of these findings for the practicality of the technology are considered.     

生物膜型污水脱氮系统中膜结构及微生物生态研究进展

生物膜法污水脱氮系统主要利用生物膜中脱氮功能微生物的代谢活动去除氮素,从而达到净化水质的目的,研究脱氮生物膜的微观结构和微生物生态是揭示生物膜脱氮机理从而提高脱氮效率的重要途径.本文综述了生物膜型污水脱氮系统类型、生物膜微观结构特征及其影响因素、生物膜型污水脱氮系统内氮素传质过程、脱氮机理和生物膜数学模型等方面的研究进展.另外,本文介绍了生物膜型污水脱氮系统内生物膜脱氮功能微生物分布特征,不同生物膜脱氮系统、底物、运行条件和时间对功能微生物群落影响,及新型脱氮功能微生物等方面的研究进展,为生物膜脱氮技术的深入研究提供参考.     

Plant community recovery following Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) removal: testing for a soil legacy effect

Restoration of plant communities can be hindered by the legacy of previously established invaders, despite their physical removal from the community. Current evidence, mainly built on short‐term greenhouse experiments, suggests that Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) invasion not only suppresses native plant species, but also alters soil conditions in host communities. As a result, L. cuneata may create a soil legacy that impedes plant community restoration. We examined the response of a Kansas grassland following L. cuneata removal to determine if historical L. cuneata abundance affected (1) plant community composition and (2) the establishment of additional native species. To address these questions, L. cuneata seeds were sown into 300 plots at a wide range of densities under different combinations of simulated disturbance and soil fertilization. After a three‐year establishment period, L. cuneata was removed from the community, and 13 native forb species were sown into all plots. Over 4 years, we found little evidence for a soil legacy effect that influenced community response post‐removal. Although there was a detectable relationship between community composition and L. cuneata, the variation explained by this relationship was very low. Similarly, the establishment of sown native species was unrelated to the historical abundance of L. cuneata. These results indicate that, regardless of initial density, L. cuneata does not impede plant community recovery in this system if effectively controlled within the first 3 years of invasion, and legacy effects inferred from greenhouse experiments may not translate to impacts on the plant community in the field.     

Membrane-attached biofilms for VOC wastewater treatment. II: Effect of biofilm thickness on performance

This article reports a study of the performance of membrane-attached biofilms grown in a single tube extractive membrane bioreactor (STEMS) used for the treatment of a synthetic wastewater containing a toxic VOC (1,2-dichloroethane [DCE]). Mass balances show that complete mineralization of DCE was achieved, and that the biofilms were effective in reducing air stripping to negligible levels. Experimental results are presented showing the evolution over time of biofilm thickness and its influence on the flux of DCE across the membrane. It has been found that a trade-off exists between the positive influence of biofilms in reducing air-stripping of DCE, and the negative influence of biofilms in reducing DCE flux across the membrane. These considerations lead to an optimal biofilm thickness in the region of 200 to 400 mum being recommended for this system. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Modeling and experimental study on the anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic process for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal: The effect of acetate addition

A mathematical model based on the simulation software AQUASIM was developed to validate an anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic (AOA) process that enables simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a single reactor by adding external organic carbon to preclude excess aerobic phosphate uptake by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and provide phosphate for denitrifying PAOs (DNPAOs). Aerobic batch tests after anaerobic phosphate release with different chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations indicated that the effect of COD concentration on the phosphate uptake preclusion could be expressed by a simple formula. The reduction factor reflecting the formula, which retards the aerobic phosphate uptake in the presence of COD, was added to the process rates of aerobic polyphosphate storage and PAOs growth in the model. The improved model, which included the reduction factor, reasonably matched the experimental result regarding aerobic phosphate uptake behavior whereas the model without it did not; thus, the former precisely predicts the AOA process behavior.     

Anaerobic treatment of complex chemical wastewater in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor: process optimization and evaluation of factor interactions using the Taguchi dynamic DOE methodology

The Taguchi robust experimental design (DOE) methodology has been applied on a dynamic anaerobic process treating complex wastewater by an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR). For optimizing the process as well as to evaluate the influence of different factors on the process, the uncontrollable (noise) factors have been considered. The Taguchi methodology adopting dynamic approach is the first of its kind for studying anaerobic process evaluation and process optimization. The designed experimental methodology consisted of four phases--planning, conducting, analysis, and validation connected sequence-wise to achieve the overall optimization. In the experimental design, five controllable factors, i.e., organic loading rate (OLR), inlet pH, biodegradability (BOD/COD ratio), temperature, and sulfate concentration, along with the two uncontrollable (noise) factors, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and alkalinity at two levels were considered for optimization of the anae robic system. Thirty-two anaerobic experiments were conducted with a different combination of factors and the results obtained in terms of substrate degradation rates were processed in Qualitek-4 software to study the main effect of individual factors, interaction between the individual factors, and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis. Attempts were also made to achieve optimum conditions. Studies on the influence of individual factors on process performance revealed the intensive effect of OLR. In multiple factor interaction studies, biodegradability with other factors, such as temperature, pH, and sulfate have shown maximum influence over the process performance. The optimum conditions for the efficient performance of the anaerobic system in treating complex wastewater by considering dynamic (noise) factors obtained are higher organic loading rate of 3.5 Kg COD/m3 day, neutral pH with high biodegradability (BOD/COD ratio of 0.5), along with mesophilic temperature range (40 degrees C), and low sulfate concentration (700 mg/L). The optimization resulted in enhanced anaerobic performance (56.7%) from a substrate degradation rate (SDR) of 1.99 to 3.13 Kg COD/m3 day. Considering the obtained optimum factors, further validation experiments were carried out, which showed enhanced process performance (3.04 Kg COD/m3-day from 1.99 Kg COD/m3 day) accounting for 52.13% improvement with the optimized process conditions. The proposed method facilitated a systematic mathematical approach to understand the complex multi-species manifested anaerobic process treating complex chemical wastewater by considering the uncontrollable factors.     

Effect of influent nutrient ratios and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on simultaneous phosphorus and nitrogen removal in a two-sludge sequencing batch reactor process

A laboratory-scale anaerobic–anoxic/nitrification sequencing batch reactor (A₂N-SBR) fed with domestic wastewater was operated to examine the effect of varying ratios of influent COD/P, COD/TN and TN/P on the nutrient removal. With the increased COD/P, the phosphorus removals exhibited an upward trend. The influent TN/P ratios had a positive linear correlation with the phosphorus removal efficiencies, mainly because nitrates act as electron acceptors for the phosphorus uptake in the A₂N-SBR. Moreover, it was found that lower COD/TN ratio, e.g. 3.5, did not significantly weaken the phosphorus removal, though the nitrogen removal first decreased greatly. The optimal phosphorus and nitrogen removals of 94% and 91%, respectively were achieved with influent COD/P and COD/TN ratios of 19.9 and 9.9, respectively. Additionally, a real-time control strategy for A₂N-SBR can be undertaken based on some characteristic points of pH, redox potential (ORP) and dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles in order to obtain the optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) and improve the operating reliability.     

Neural network prediction of thermophilic (65 degrees C) sulfidogenic fluidized-bed reactor performance for the treatment of metal-containing wastewater

The performance of a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) based sulfate reducing bioprocess was predicted using artificial neural network (ANN). The FBR was operated at high (65 degrees C) temperature and it was fed with iron (40-90 mg/L) and sulfate (1,000-1,500 mg/L) containing acidic (pH = 3.5-6) synthetic wastewater. Ethanol was supplemented as carbon and electron source for sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). The wastewater pH of 4.3-4.4 was neutralized by the alkalinity produced in acetate oxidation and the average effluent pH was 7.8 +/- 0.8. The oxidation of acetate is the rate-limiting step in the sulfidogenic ethanol oxidation by thermophilic SRB, which resulted in acetate accumulation. Sulfate reduction and acetate oxidation rates showed variation depending on the operational conditions with the maximum rates of 1 g/L/d (0.2 g/g volatile solids (VS)/d) and 0.3 g/L/d (0.06 g/g VS/d), respectively. This study presents an ANN model predicting the performance of the reactor and determining the optimal architecture of this model; such as best back-propagation (BP) algorithm and neuron numbers. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was selected as the best of 12 BP algorithms and optimal neuron number was determined as 20. The developed ANN model predicted acetate (R=0.91), sulfate (R=0.95), sulfide (R=0.97), and alkalinity (R=0.94) in the FBR effluent. Hence, the ANN based model can be used to predict the FBR performance, to control the operational conditions for improved process performance.     

Heterotrophs grown on the soluble microbial products (SMP) released by autotrophs are responsible for the nitrogen loss in nitrifying granular sludge

In this work, nitrogen loss in the nitrite oxidation step of the nitrification process in an aerobic‐granule‐based reactor was characterized with both experimental and modeling approaches. Experimental results showed that soluble microbial products (SMP) were released from the nitrite‐oxidizing granules and were utilized as a carbon source by the heterotrophs for denitrification. This was verified by the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Microelectrode tests showed that oxygen diffusion limitation did result in an anoxic micro‐zone in the granules and allowed sequential utilization of nitrate as an electron acceptor for heterotrophic denitrification with SMP as a carbon source. To further elucidate the nitrogen loss mechanisms, a mathematic model was formulated to describe the growth of nitrite oxidizers, the formation and consumption of SMP, the anoxic heterotrophic growth on SMP and nitrate, as well as the oxygen transfer and the substrate diffusion in the granules. The results clearly indicate that the heterotrophs grown on the SMP released by the autotrophs are responsible for the nitrogen loss in the nitrifying granules, and give us a better understanding of the aerobic granules for nitrogen removal. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2844–2852. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Covalent immobilization of redox enzyme on electrospun nonwoven poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) nanofiber mesh filled with carbon nanotubes: a comprehensive study

In this work, novel conductive composite nanofiber mesh possessing reactive groups was electrospun from solutions containing poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (PANCAA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for redoxase immobilization, assuming that the incorporated MWCNTs could behave as electrons transferor during enzyme catalysis. The covalent immobilization of catalase from bovine liver on the neat PANCAA nanofiber mesh or the composite one was processed in the presence of EDC/NHS. Results indicated that both the amount and activity retention of bound catalase on the composite nanofiber mesh were higher than those on the neat PANCAA nanofiber mesh, and the activity increased up to 42%. Kinetic parameters, K(m) and V(max), for the catalases immobilized on the composite nanofiber mesh were lower and higher than those on the neat one, respectively. This enhanced activity might be ascribed to either promoted electron transfer through charge-transfer complexes and the pi system of carbon nanotubes or rendered biocompatibility by modified MWCNTs. Furthermore, the immobilized catalases revealed much more stability after MWCNTs were incorporated into the polymer nanofiber mesh. However, there was no significant difference in optimum pH value and temperature, thermal stability and operational stability between these two immobilized preparations, while the two ones appeared more advantageous than the free in these properties. The effect of MWCNTs incorporation on another redox enzyme, peroxidase, was also studied and it was found that the activity increased by 68% in comparison of composite one with neat preparation.     

气调胁迫对咖啡豆象三种解毒酶活性与动力学参数的影响(英文)

为了分析气调处理对实验昆虫解毒酶性质的影响, 探讨酶活性变化与气调抗性形成的潜在关系, 本研究用高浓度二氧化碳胁迫处理咖啡豆象Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer), 研究其羧酸酯酶(carboxylesterase, CarE)、 酸性磷酸酯酶(acid phosphatase, ACP)和谷胱甘肽转移酶(glutathione S-transferases, GSTs)的生物化学与毒理学性质。结果表明： 高浓度二氧化碳气调胁迫处理咖啡豆象3 h, 6 h和9 h, 其CarE酶活力分别升高 35.41%, 55.02%和88.98%。 CarE酶促动力学参数V_max分别升高26.13%, 31.77%和57.12%, K_m没有显著改变; 相应处理下, ACP活力分别升高34.53%, 72.45%和126.37%; GSTs 活力分别升高5.40%, 8.40%和17.59%。可见, 二氧化碳气调胁迫下, 实验昆虫可以通过调节部分解毒酶的酶活力或酶促动力学参数来应对不利环境; 酶与底物间的亲和力增强可能是昆虫在气调胁迫下保护机体免受伤害的一种代谢反馈信息。本研究可为昆虫气调杀虫及其抗（耐）气性形成机制提供一些基础信息。     

Flow injection determination of benzhexol based on its sensitizing effect on the chemiluminescent reaction of Ce(IV)–sulfite

In this paper, a novel chemiluminescent (CL) method for the determination of benzhexol has been developed by combining the flow injection technique and its sensitizing effect on the weak CL reaction between sulfite and acidic cerium(IV). A mechanism for the CL reaction has been proposed on the basis of CL spectra. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method allows the measurement of benzhexol hydrochloride over the range 0.1–10 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992 (n = 8), a detection limit of 0.02 μg/mL (3σ), and a relative standard deviation for 2.0 μg/mL benzhexol (n = 11) of 1.65%. The utility of this method was demonstrated by determining benzhexol hydrochloride in tablets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.