Nitrogen transformation in two subsurface infiltration systems at pilot scale

Nitrogen removal and transformations were studied in two pilot-scale combinations of a special configuration of a subsurface wastewater infiltration system with vertical flow named symbiotic treatment^®. Both pilot-scale combinations operated in parallel and each one consists of four stages in series, one of them with a vertical distribution of stages and the other one with a horizontal distribution. The main differences between them were the separation between stages (presence (the horizontal distribution)/absence (the vertical distribution) of filtration between steps), the hydraulic load (0.113 m³/m² h and 0.082 m³/m² h for the horizontal and the vertical distribution, respectively) and the depth of the soil filters (1 m each stage in the horizontal distribution whereas the depths in the vertical distribution ranges from 20 cm to 40 cm). Results of both configurations showed elevated dissolved oxygen concentration, and high removal of organic matter and total suspended solids (with mean removal values of 96% for COD for both plants and 90% and 98% for TSS for the vertical and the horizontal distribution, respectively). High total Kjeldahl nitrogen removals were obtained in both configurations (mean removals of 70% and 90% for the vertical and the horizontal distribution, respectively). Whereas the nitrification potential was higher in the configuration with horizontal distribution which includes pumping and filtering between stages and higher depth of the soil filters, both tested configurations showed promise for nitrification of wastewater, ammonia nitrogen was efficiently transformed to nitrate.     

污水地下渗滤系统脱氮效果及动力学过程

建立了模拟污水地下渗滤过程的中试系统,重点考察了水力负荷对系统脱氮效率的影响情况,建立了描述地下渗滤系统微生物脱氮过程的动力学模型.结果表明:地下渗滤系统脱氮效果好,抗水力负荷冲击能力强,处理最佳水力负荷0.125m3· m-2· d-1,出水中氮浓度低于《城市污水再生利用——景观环境用水水质》标准( GB/T 18921-2002).地下渗滤系统硝化过程符合一级动力学模型NE=Noe-0.4812t,温度是影响硝化速率的主要因素,两者的关系是KT=0.2218×1.035(T-20);出水硝态氮浓度与水力停留时间之间呈负指数关系,可描述为C=16.3475e-0.2548t,碳源是引起反硝化速率变化的主要因子.在基质层垂直深度65 cm处二次补加生活污水,反硝化速率常数由0.0355提高到0.0488.强调地下渗滤系统的污水净化功能而忽视其生态服务功能,是系统运行中普遍存在的认识误区,过高的水力负荷不利于硝化-反硝化反应的顺利进行.地下渗滤系统运行应采取适宜的水力负荷方式,促进硝化-反硝化作用.     

Kinetics of pollutant removal from domestic wastewater in a tropical horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland system: Effects of hydraulic loading rate

The treatment capacity of constructed wetlands is expected to be high in tropical areas because of the warm temperatures and the associated higher rates of microbial activity. A pilot scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland system filled with river sand and planted with Phragmites vallatoria (L.) Veldkamp was set up in the southern part of Vietnam to assess the treatment capacity and the removal rate kinetics under tropical conditions. The system received municipal wastewater at four hydraulic loading rates (HLRs) of 31, 62, 104 and 146 mm day^?1. Removals of TSS, BOD₅ and COD were efficient at all HLRs with mean removal rates of 86–95%, 65–83% and 57–84%, respectively. Removals of N and P decreased with HLRs and were: NH₄-N 0–91%; TN 16–84% and TP 72–99%. First-order area-based removal rate constants (k, m year^?1) estimated from sampling along the length of the wetland from inlet to outlet at the four HLRs were in the range of 25–95 (BOD₅), 22–30 (COD), 31–115 (TSS), 5–24 (TN and TKN) and 41–84 (TP) at background concentrations (C*) of 5, 10, 0, 1.5 and 0 mg L^?1, respectively. The estimated k-values should not be used for design purposes, as site-specific differences and stochastic variability can be high. However, the study shows that domestic wastewater can be treated in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland systems to meet even the most stringent Vietnamese standards for discharge into surface waters.     

Effect of nutrient loading and retention time on performance of high rate algal ponds

Small pilot ponds in a glasshouse at the Scottish Agricultural College (Auchincruive) were used to investigate the effects of changing C:N:P loading rate and retention time on pond performance as measured by nutrient removal and dry matter biomass. One experiment investigated ponds operated at two C:N:P ratios: low (9:7:1) and high (104:10:1) and two retention times (4 and 7 days θ. Increasing retention time from 4 to 7 days increased the concentration of total (dry matter) and algal (chlorophyll a) biomass and the degree of nitrification. It also increased removal of phosphorus, but had no effect on nitrogen or COD removal. Cyanobacteria predominated in ponds operated at both 4 and 7 days, and the density of cyanobacteria increased with increased retention time. Nitrogen removal was independent of C:N:P ratio; indeed the lower C:N:P ratio favoured increased nitrification. A high C:N:P ratio increased phosphorus and COD removal and increased the concentration of algal biomass (chlorophyll a), but had little effect on total biomass (dry matter). A second experiment varied COD loading rate (600, 350 and 100 kg COD ha-¹ d-¹) while maintaining a constant retention time (either 5 or 7 days θ). Species composition was independent of retention time. The longer retention time increased both total and algal biomass concentration and also percentage of nitrogen removed. Nitrification was independent of retention time. Increasing loading rate increased dry matter production and resulted in a predominance of cyanobacteria over Chlorophyceae. Increased loading rate was related to increase in nitrogen removal, however more complete nitrification occurred at low COD loading rates. Phosphorus removal in the pond with 5-day (θ) remained constant independent of loading rate, but in the pond with 7-day θ phosphorus removal increased with increased COD loading. COD removal was independent of both retention time and loading rate. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The role of loading rate, backwashing, water and air velocities in an up-flow nitrifying tertiary filter

The vertical distribution of nitrification performances in an up-flow biological aerated filter operated at tertiary nitrification stage is evaluated in this paper. Experimental data were collected from a semi-industrial pilot-plant under various operating conditions. The actual and the maximum nitrification rates were measured at different levels inside the up-flow biofilter. A nitrogen loading rate higher than 1.0 kg NH₄-N m⁻³_media d⁻¹ is necessary to obtain nitrification activity over all the height of the biofilter. The increase in water and air velocities from 6 to 10 m h⁻¹ and 10 to 20 m h⁻¹ has increased the nitrification rate by 80% and 20% respectively. Backwashing decreases the maximum nitrification rate in the media by only 3-14%. The nitrification rate measured at a level of 0.5 m above the bottom of the filter is four times higher than the applied daily average volumetric nitrogen loading rate up to 1.5 kg NH₄-N m⁻³_media d⁻¹. Finally, it is shown that 58% of the available nitrification activity is mobilized in steady-state conditions while up to 100% is used under inflow-rate increase.     

New concept of contaminant removal from swine wastewater by a biological treatment process

Pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are the most serious pollution source in China now, and swine wastewater contains high concentrations of nutrients such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand 5 (BOD5), ammonium, and emergent contaminants related to public health. Biological processes are the most popular treatment methods for COD and ammonium removal. Considering the low operation cost, easy maintenance and high removal rate of contaminants in recent years, nitrogen removal via nitrite and real-time control processes using oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and/or pH as parameters to control the aerobic and anaerobic cycles of a system has received much attention for animal wastewater treatment. During the biological treatment process, the emergent contaminants such as estrogen, antibiotics, and disinfec-tion reagents have been the focus of research recently, and degradation bacteria and resistance bacteria have also been extracted from activated sludge. The microbial analysis technique is also advancement in the field of biodegrada-tion bacteria and resistance bacteria. All of these advance-ments in research serve to improve wastewater treatment and decrease environmental hazards, especially for using manure as a fertilizer source for crop production.     

Role of heterotrophic nitrifiers and aerobic denitrifiers in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process: a nonconventional nitrogen removal pathway in wastewater treatment

Bacterial species capable of performing both nitrification and denitrification in a single vessel under similar conditions have gained significance in the wastewater treatment scenario considering their unique character of performing the above reactions under heterotrophic and aerobic conditions respectively. Such a novel strategy often referred to as simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) has a tremendous potential in dealing with various wastewaters having low C : N content, considering that the process needs very little or no external carbon source and oxygen supply thus adding to its cost-effective and environmentally friendly nature. Though like other micro-organisms, heterotrophic nitrifiers and aerobic denitrifiers convert inorganic or organic nitrogen-containing substances into harmless dinitrogen gas in the wastewater, their ecophysiological role in the global nitrogen cycle is still not fully understood. Attempts to highlight the role played by the heterotrophic nitrifiers and aerobic denitrifiers in dealing with nitrogen pollution under various environmental operating conditions will help in developing a mechanistic understanding of the SND process to address the issues faced by the traditional methods of aerobic autotrophic nitrification–anaerobic heterotrophic denitrification.     

Investigation of soluble microbial products in a full-scale UASB reactor running at low organic loading rate

Investigation on a full-scale UASB treating industrial wastewater at a low organic loading rate (OLR) was conducted. Excellent treatment performance was achieved when treating the evaporator condensate of distillery wastewater at the OLR of less than 1 kg COD/m³ d. Anaerobic effluent could be discharged without further treatment, which saved energy and running cost considerably. GC–MS analysis showed that the soluble microbial products (SMPs) were decreased to a low level at the low OLR. The main SMP in the anaerobic effluent were long chain carbohydrates and esters, accounting for 55–65% of the total organic matters. Anaerobic SMP was more complex than the aerobic ones.     

生活污水慢渗对'中林2001'杨树人工林生长的影响

采用不同污水水力负荷(每周0、3、6、9、12、15 cm),在'中林2001'杨树人工林林地进行了污水慢渗试验.结果表明:不同负荷生活污水处理使'中林2001'杨树人工林土壤平均有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾和Na+含量分别比对照(0 cm)增加1.940、0.115、O.029、1.454和0.030 g·kg-1;在较低水力负荷(3～12 cm)时,杨树平均总生长量增加17.583 t·hm-2·a-1,各器官的平均氮、磷、Na+含量分别增加3.086、0.645和0.121 g·kg-1,水力负荷在每周6～12 cm时,杨树平均总生长量和各器官平均氮、磷、Na+含量达到最大值(36.252 t·hm-2·a-1、13.162 g·kg-1、5.137 g·kg-1、0.361 g·kg-1),负荷继续升高则有所下降.杨树各器官钾含量随着水力负荷的增加而降低;污水处理使杨树的叶长增加,叶不对称性减少、使林木延迟落叶.当水力负荷＞每周12 cm时,土壤中较高的Na+和水分含量将危害杨树生长.适宜'中林2001'杨树人工林生长的污水水力负荷在每周3～12 cm.     

慢速渗滤土地处理系统对沈阳西部城市污水有机污染物净化效果的研究

本文研究了慢速渗滤土地处理系统对沈阳西部城市污水中有机污染物的净化效果和有机污染物在土地处理系统土壤中的残留情况。结果表明,在试验条件下,系统对有机污染物具有良好的净化效果,大多数有机污染物在系统输出水中未被检出,少数重点有机污染物在系统输出水中的浓度也明显降低,其中苯、氯苯、1,2-和1,4-二氯苯、苯酚,邻苯二甲酸二丁酯、γ-666等的含量已明显低于地面水水质标准建议值。系统对绝大多数重点有机污染物的去除率达95—100％,而不同重点有机污染物在土壤中的残留率为0—3％。     

Effect of influent COD/N ratio on biological nitrogen removal (BNR) from high-strength ammonium industrial wastewater

The effect of influent COD/N ratio on biological nitrogen removal (BNR) from high-strength ammonium industrial wastewater was investigated. Experiments were conducted in a modified Ludzack–Ettinger pilot-plant configuration for 365 days. Total nitrification of an influent concentration of 1200 mg NH₄⁺–N l⁻¹ was obtained in this period. Influent COD/N ratios between 0.71 and 3.4 g COD g N⁻¹ were tested by varying the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) supplied to the pilot plant. An exponential decrease of nitrification rate was observed when the influent COD/N ratio increased.

The experimental COD/N ratio for denitrification was 7.1±0.8 g COD g N⁻¹ while the stoichiometric ratio was 4.2 g COD g N⁻¹. This difference is attributable to the oxidation of organic matter in the anoxic reactor with the oxygen of the internal recycle. The influence of influent COD/N ratio on the treatment of high-strength ammonium industrial wastewater can be quantified with these results. The influence of COD/N ratio should be one of the main parameters in the design of biological nitrogen removal processes in industrial wastewater treatment.     

生活污水慢渗对‘中林2001’杨树人工林生长的影响

采用不同污水水力负荷(每周0、3、6、9、12、15 cm),在‘中林2001’杨树人工林林地进行了污水慢渗试验.结果表明：不同负荷生活污水处理使‘中林2001’杨树人工林土壤平均有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾和Na⁺含量分别比对照(0 cm)增加1.940、0.115、0.029、1.454和0.030 g·kg^-1;在较低水力负荷(3～12 cm)时,杨树平均总生长量增加17.583 t·hm^-2·a^-1,各器官的平均氮、磷、Na⁺含量分别增加3.086、0.645和0.121 g·kg^-1,水力负荷在每周6～12 cm时, 杨树平均总生长量和各器官平均氮、磷、Na⁺含量达到最大值(36.252 t·hm^-2·a^-1、13.162 g·kg^-1、5.137 g·kg^-1、0.361 g·kg^-1),负荷继续升高则有所下降.杨树各器官钾含量随着水力负荷的增加而降低;污水处理使杨树的叶长增加,叶不对称性减少、使林木延迟落叶.当水力负荷＞每周12 cm时,土壤中较高的Na⁺和水分含量将危害杨树生长.适宜‘中林2001’杨树人工林生长的污水水力负荷在每周3～12 cm.     

生活污水慢渗生态处理对土壤及杨树生长的影响

为了观测生活污水杨树林地处理对土壤和林木生长的影响,2008—2009年在郑州市龙湖镇,采用不同水力负荷(0、3、6、9、12、15cm/周),进行了污水慢渗生态处理试验。测定了污水处理期间杨树地上部分生长量,对表层(0—40cm)和下层(40—100cm)土壤理化性质进行了分析。选用土壤容重、有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾作为土壤质量因子,运用土壤质量综合指标评价不同处理表层土壤质量,对下层土壤的理化性状的变化进行了研究。结果表明:在3—9cm/周水力负荷时,表层土壤质量综合指标值(QI值)和杨树地上部分生长量均随着水力负荷的增加而增加,在9cm/周水力负荷时达到最大;水力负荷大于9cm/周,QI值和杨树地上部分生长量随着水力负荷增加而降低。在水力负荷较低时,污水处理对下层土壤性状影响较小,水力负荷大于9cm/周,污水处理对下层土壤性状产生了不良影响。生活污水杨树林地处理比较适宜的水力负荷是6—9cm/周。     

慢速渗滤土地处理系统中优先有机物的迁移、归宿与生态风险

研究了沈阳西部城市污水慢速渗滤土地处理系统中优先有机污染物的迁移和残留情况,结果表明,土地处理系统和当地传统污灌区耕作层土壤、地下水中的优先有机污染物的总含量分别高于对照区（清水灌区）１倍和４倍以上;系统出水、地下水和传统污灌区地下水中的优先有机污染物的浓度有相似的分布、说明污灌水中的有机污染物对土壤和地下水产生一定程度的影响,但土地处理系统和当地传统污灌区生产的大米中,优先有机污染物含量与对照区相比未见显著差异．     

Treatment of coal gasification wastewater by a two-continuous UASB system with step-feed for COD and phenols removal

A two-continuous mesophilic (37 ± 2 °C) UASB system with step-feed was investigated as an attractive optimization strategy for enhancing COD and total phenols removal of the system and improving aerobic biodegradability of real coal gasification wastewater. Through the step-feed period, the maximum removal efficiencies of COD and total phenols reached 55-60% and 58-63% respectively in the system, at an influent flow distribution ratio of 0.2 and influent COD concentration of 2500 mg/L; the corresponding efficiencies were at low levels of 45-50% and 43-50% respectively at total HRT of 48 h during the single-feed period. The maximum specific methanogenic activity and substrate utilization rate were 592 ± 16 mg COD-CH₄/(gVSS d) and 89 ± 12 mg phenol/(gVSS d) during the step-feed operation. After the anaerobic digestion with step-feed, the aerobic effluent COD concentration decreased from 270 ± 9 to 215 ± 10 mg/L. The results suggested that step-feed enhanced the degradation of refractory organics in the second reactor.     

Effects of monocot and dicot types and species richness in mesocosm constructed wetlands on removal of pollutants from wastewater

The effects of planting type and species richness on removal of BOD5, COD, nitrogen and phosphorus were studied in mesocosms with monocot alone (M), dicot alone (D) and mixed planting of M+D, where each planting type had four species richness levels. Above- and below-ground plant biomasses increased with the M and M+D species richness as shown by one-way ANOVA. The M+D type had the highest above-ground biomass, whereas the M type had the highest below-ground biomass among planting types. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the microbial biomass increased with the richness of the M and M+D type. Removals of BOD5, COD, inorganic P and total P did not change with the richness, but removals of NH4-N, NO3-N increased. Planting type impacted only removal of inorganic P, with higher removal of inorganic P in the M type.     

Effect of anoxic/aerobic phase fraction on N2O emission in a sequencing batch reactor under low temperature

Laboratory scale anoxic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor (A/O SBR) was operated around 15 °C to evaluate the effect of anoxic/aerobic phase fraction (PF) on N₂O emission. The ammonia removal exhibited a decrease trend with the increase of PF, while the highest total nitrogen removal was achieved at PF = 0.5. Almost all the N₂O was emitted during the aerobic phase, despite of the PF value. However, the net emission of N₂O was affected by PF. Under the premise of completely aerobic nitrification, the lowest N₂O emission was achieved at PF = 0.5, with a N₂O-N conversion rate of 9.8%. At lower PF (PF = 0.2), N₂O emission was stimulated by residual nitrite caused by uncompleted denitrification during the anoxic phase. On the other hand, the exhaustion of the easily degradable carbon was the major cause for the high N₂O emission at higher PF (PF = 0.5). The N₂O emission increased with the decreasing temperature. The time-weighted N₂O emission quantity at 15 °C was 2.9 times higher than that at 25 °C.     

Analysis of bacterial community structure in the natural circulation system wastewater bioreactor by using a 16S rRNA gene clone library

A variety of physical and chemical parameters are routinely monitored during operation of the Natural Circulation System, a wastewater purification bioreactor in which only natural materials and no synthetic chemicals are used. However, the microbial community structures existing in the Natural Circulation System have not been well characterized. Thus, bacterial community structure and composition in this system were studied using clone library analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA genes amplified using PCR with universal bacterial primer sets. The PCR products were then subcloned into the pGEM-T vector. Each unique restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern, created by using two pairs of restriction endonucleases, was designated as an operational taxonomic unit (OTU). The Natural Circulation System comprises five tanks, the second and third of which play a major role in the bioreactor. Clone library pro-files and principal component analysis revealed differences in the bacterial community structures of the second (anaerobic chamber) and the third (aerobic chamber) tanks. However, the beta-proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes/ Chlorobi and gamma-proteobacteria groups were dominant in both tanks. Bacterial composition was more complex in the second tank (107 OTUs) than in the third tank (68 OTUs). Of a total of 154 OTUs in the clone libraries, only 21 were common to the two tanks. The results obtained in this study should provide important information for future research into and management of the Natural Circulation System wastewater bioreactor.