Anaerobic digestion of olive mill wastewaters in biofilm reactors packed with granular activated carbon and "Manville" silica beads

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most promising technologies for disposing olive mill wastewaters (OMWs). The process is generally carried out in the conventional contact bioreactors, which however are often unable to efficiently remove OMW phenolic compounds, that therefore occur in the effluents. The possibility of mitigating this problem by employing an anaerobic OMW-digesting microbial consortium passively immobilized in column reactors packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) or "Manville" silica beads (SB) was here investigated. Under batch conditions, both GAC- and SB-packed-bed biofilm reactors exhibited OMW COD and phenolic compound removal efficiencies markedly higher (from 60% to 250%) than those attained in a parallel anaerobic dispersed growth reactor developed with the same inoculum; GAC-reactor exhibited COD and phenolic compound depletion yields higher by 62% and 78%, respectively, than those achieved with the identically configured SB-biofilm reactor. Both biofilm reactors also mediated an extensive OMW remediation under continuous conditions, where GAC-reactor was much more effective than the corresponding SB-one, and showed a tolerance to high and variable organic loads along with a volumetric productivity in terms of COD and phenolic compound removal significantly higher than those averagely displayed by most of the conventional and packed-bed laboratory-scale reactors previously proposed for the OMW digestion.     

Bacterial community shifts in nonylphenol polyethoxylates-enriched activated sludge

A molecular approach was used to evaluate the effect of nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants on the bacterial diversity in lab-scale activated sludge reactors. Separate bench-scale units were fed synthetic wastewater with and without addition of branched nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPnEO). The performance of the reactors, in terms of carbonaceous removal was largely unaffected by the presence of NP10EO in the feeding solution. However, addition of NP10EO exerted a pronounced shift in bacterial community composition. In situ hybridization analyzing larger phylogenetic groups of bacteria with ribosomal RNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes revealed the dominance of clusters composed of Betaproteobacteria, accounting for up to one-third of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol-dihydrochloride (DAPI)-stained cells in NP10EO amended reactors and only 5% of DAPI-stained cells in the controls. These shifts in populations of larger phylogenetic groups were confirmed by dot-blot analysis of rRNA. Members of gamma subclass of Proteobacteria were present in low numbers in all activated sludge samples examined, suggesting that only bacteria affiliated with the beta subclass of Proteobacteria may have a specific role in NP10EO degradation.     

Investigation on the removal of natural and synthetic estrogens using biofilms in continuous flow biofilm reactors and batch experiments analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The degradation of the natural estrogen 17β-estradiol and the synthetic steroid hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol, two estrogens already detected in surface waters at low concentration levels, was investigated using continuous flow biofilm reactors and batch experiments. Biofilms in continuous flow experiments were created by natural organisms from river systems of the national park Unteres Odertal, Germany, whereas batch experiments were performed with isolated bacterial strains derived from biofilms. The analytical method, including solid phase extraction, silylation of analytes and measurement with GC/MS, was optimised for the target compounds 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol and the possible metabolites estrone and estriol. The performance characteristics of the analytical method, namely recovery, standard deviations, method detection limits (MDL) and method quantification limits (MQL), were evaluated for accurate interpretation of degradation experiments. Continuous flow biofilm reactors were operated with two different nutrient media under dosage of estradiol and ethinylestradiol. Both estrogens were rapidly degraded within several hours; the metabolite estrone (from estradiol as well as from ethinylestradiol) was detected in significant amounts and was further decomposed. In additional batch experiments using isolated bacterial strains from the natural biofilms to decompose estradiol and ethinylestradiol, different metabolisms of isolates were explored. Five of the 15 isolated bacterial strains tested degraded estradiol and ethinylestradiol with different degradation rates. The results suggest that biofilms from national park Unteres Odertal possess a high capability to aerobically decompose natural and also synthetic estrogens so that these microorganisms could provide enhanced removal of pollutants in municipal water treatment plants.     

Chemical reaction engineering and activated sludge

The applicability of chemical reaction engineering principles to activated sludge systems is discussed. Based on these principles, an explanation is proposed to the similar performance of plug flow and completely mixed activated sludge systems treating municipal wastewater. The use of batch data for the design of continuous flow reactors is also explained.     

Comparison of nitrification inhibition by metals in batch and continuous flow reactors

Stringent effluent discharge limits for nitrogen require development of assays to accurately and rapidly determine whether a wastewater stream will inhibit nitrification. The suitability of a short-term extant batch respirometric assay to predict nitrification inhibition by metals (Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd) in continuous flow reactors was evaluated. Linear metal partition coefficients were determined to be 78.42+/-2.46, 0.54+/-0.04, 0.05+/-0.01 and 0.60+/-0.01 L/g biomass COD in batch experiments (pH=7.5) for Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd, respectively. A mass-balance model, incorporating metal partitioning, adequately fit the metal concentration profiles in the continuous flow reactor during and after a 24-hour shock load. However, the short-term batch assays significantly underestimated observed inhibition in the continuous flow reactor. The underestimation was, most likely, due to slow kinetics of Zn, Ni and Cd internalization and an exacerbation effect due to continued metal exposure in the continuous flow reactor. The discrepancy in inhibition between batch and continuous systems was the largest for Cu, presumably due to its unique mode of action, which involves loss of cell membrane integrity. Hence, using results from short-term batch respirometric assays to infer responses in continuous flow reactors with longer exposure should be done with caution and must accommodate partitioning behavior and internalization kinetics.     

Treatment of olive-pomace oil refinery wastewater using combined coagulation-electroflotation process

Electroflotation is an aeration process which can be used to treat effectively industrial effluents. In the present work, a combined version of the electroflotation process with the coagulation operation was conceived to treat the olive pomace oil refinery wastewater. Batch and continuous mode of treatment was done in order to optimize the main operating parameters affecting the suspended solids elimination. In batch mode, the methodology of experimental research was adopted with these operating parameters: current density, pH and coagulant concentration. Then, the continuous mode aimed to optimize the residence time. As a main finding, the suspended solid removal efficiency and chemical oxygen demand abatement efficiency exceeded 92%.     

Evaluating the influence of process parameters on soluble microbial products formation using response surface methodology coupled with grey relational analysis

Soluble microbial products (SMPs) present a major part of residual chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the effluents from biological wastewater treatment systems, and the SMP formation is greatly influenced by a variety of process parameters. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with grey relational analysis (GRA) method was used to evaluate the effects of substrate concentration, temperature, NH₄⁺-N concentration and aeration rate on the SMP production in batch activated sludge reactors. Carbohydrates were found to be the major component of SMP, and the influential priorities of these factors were: temperature > substrate concentration > aeration rate > NH₄⁺-N concentration. On the basis of the RSM results, the interactive effects of these factors on the SMP formation were evaluated, and the optimal operating conditions for a minimum SMP production in such a batch activated sludge system also were identified. These results provide useful information about how to control the SMP formation of activated sludge and ensure the bioreactor high-quality effluent.     

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by activated sludge treating municipal wastewater: effect of pH,sludge retention time (SRT), and acetate concentration in influent

In this paper, the production of biodegradable plastics polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by activated sludge treating municipal wastewater was investigated. The effect of three operational factors, i.e. the acetate concentration in influent, pH, and sludge retention time (SRT) were studied. Sludge acclimatized with municipal wastewater supplemented with acetate could accumulate PHA up to 30% of sludge dry weight, while sludge acclimatized with only municipal wastewater achieved 20% of sludge dry weight. It was found that activated sludge with an SRT of 3 days possessed better PHA production capability than sludge with an SRT of 10 days. Sludge acclimatized under pH 7 and 8 conditions in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) exhibited similar PHA production capability. However, in PHA production batch experiments, pH value influenced significantly the PHA accumulation behavior of activated sludge. When pH of batch experiments was controlled at 6 or 7, a very low PHA production was observed. The production of PHA was stimulated when pH was kept at 8 or 9.     

Anaerobic/aerobic treatment of coloured textile effluents using sequencing batch reactors

Conventional biological wastewater treatment plants do not easily degrade the dyes and polyvinyl alcohols (PVOH) in textile effluents. Results are reported on the possible advantages of anaerobic/aerobic cometabolism in sequenced redox reactors. A six phase anaerobic/aerobic sequencing laboratory scale batch reactor was developed to treat a synthetic textile effluent. The wastewater included PVOH from desizing and an azo dye (Remazol Black). The reactor removed 66% of the applied total organic carbon (load F: M 0.15) compared to 76% from a control reactor without dye. Colour removal was 94% but dye metabolites caused reactor instability. Aromatic amines from the anaerobic breakdown of the azo dyes were not completely mineralised by the aerobic phase. Breakdown of PVOH by the reactor (20-30%) was not as good as previous reports with entirely aerobic cultures. The anaerobic cultures were able to tolerate the oxygen and methane continued to be produced but there was a deterioration in settlement.     

Cyclic batch biological wastewater treatment

The possibility of using cyclic batch operations to replace conventional continuous stirred tank reactors for biological wastewater treatment is considered.Using mathematical models the efficiencies of cyclic batch, fed batch and continuous stirred tank processing, are compared. A cyclic batch is shown to have a large kinetic advantage, especially when the final substrate concentration is low. A graphical method is developed from theory which makes use of either an experimental batch kinetics curve or a suitable kinetic model. From the graphical calculation the total volume requirement and the optimal retained volume can be determined.     

Kinetics and stoichiometry of sulfide oxidation by sewer biofilms

Oxidation of sulfide under aerobic conditions by biofilms grown on municipal wastewater in 6 identical pipe reactors was investigated. The biofilms were grown at pH 7.6 and temperatures of 20 and 25 degrees C under aerobic-anaerobic transient conditions with pulse dosing of sulfide in the bulk water. The pulse dosing of sulfide served to simulate conditions in a gravity sewer located downstream of a pressure main. During growth of the biofilms, sulfide was pulse dosed in concentrations of 0, 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 g Sm(-3) with a frequency of 1h(-1). Based on a series of batch experiments, kinetics and stoichiometry of sulfide oxidation by the sewer biofilms was investigated and a rate equation and a stoichiometric constant proposed. Sulfide oxidation kinetics was significantly faster for biofilms grown at sulfide loadings of 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 g Sm(-3)h(-1) than for biofilms grown in the absence of sulfide. However, the kinetics of sulfide oxidation was relatively constant for biofilms grown at sulfide loadings above 0.5 g Sm(-3)h(-1). Mass balance calculations of dissolved oxygen and sulfur compounds suggested the oxidation product to be elemental sulfur. Further oxidation of elemental sulfur could not be documented.     

SBR生物除磷系统中聚磷菌的特性研究

采用人工合成污水,在两个分别以厌氧／好氧（A／O）和厌氧／缺氧（A／A）运行的SBR反应器中进行生物除磷诱导与强化,并对聚磷菌（PAOs）的特性进行了研究。采用传统分离方法从这两个运行稳定且可高效除磷的SBR反应器中获得了37株纯种菌,经异染颗粒和聚β－羟基丁酸（PHB）颗粒染色及纯种培养后,确定其中7株为高效聚磷菌。通过生理生化特性试验,确定SYO－1、SYA－2、SYA－5和FCO－2为假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）,SYO－2为棒杆菌属（Coryne—bacterium）,SYO－8为肠杆菌科（Enterobacter）,FCO－12为葡萄球菌属（Staphylococcus）。其中SYO－1、SYO－2、SYO－8、FCO－2、FCO－12为传统好氧聚磷菌,SYA－2和SYA－5为反硝化聚磷菌（DNPAOs）。以A／O方式运行的SBR反应器中细菌多样性和聚磷菌种类都较以A／A方式运行的SBR的多。在以A／A方式运行的SBR系统中,反硝化聚磷菌主要为假单胞菌属;而在以A／O方式运行的SBR系统中,除假单胞菌属外,还存在棒杆菌属、肠杆菌科和葡萄球菌属。     

Bacterial growth on aniline: implications for the biotreatment of industrial wastewater

The degradation of aniline by bacterial consortia was investigated under aerobic, fermentative, nitrate-reducing and sulphate-reducing conditions and a variety of salt concentrations (0.2, 4 and 7% NaCl w/v) and pH values (5 and 7). A variety of degradation conditions were studied to provide information and recommendations for large-scale biological treatment of aniline-containing wastewater. Under aerobic conditions, degradation of aniline (2 mM) was achieved under all combinations of salinity and pH tested. The rate of bacterial growth decreased with increasing salinity. The bacterial consortium of each batch culture generally maintained its ability to degrade aniline when salt concentrations and pHs were changed although often the lag-phase prior to growth was extended. Microbial populations in fixed film continuous reactors were also able to resist changes in NaCl concentration. Increasing aniline concentration (0.25–1 g l⁻¹) under 0.2% NaCl (pH 5 and 7) conditions, resulted in aniline removal without affecting growth rates. At the lower pH, cell yield was not adversely affected by an increase in aniline concentration. However, at neutral pH, cell yield decreased with increasing aniline concentration. Cultures capable of degrading aniline under fermentative, nitrate-reducing and sulphate-reducing conditions were not obtained.     

Effect of sludge fasting/feasting on growth of activated sludge cultures

Reduction of excess sludge in an oxic-settling-anoxic (OSA) activated sludge process might be attributed to a "sludge fasting (insufficient food under an anoxic condition)/feasting (sufficient food under an oxic condition)" treatment. This paper was to examine this explanation by investigating both the sludge fasting/feasting phenomenon and the effect of a fasting/feasting treatment on sludge growth. In this study, five different activated sludge cultures cultivated using synthetic wastewater composed of mainly glucose and other necessary nutrients: (1) an aerobic batch culture, (2) an intermittently aerated batch culture, (3) an anoxic batch culture, (4) a continuous aerobic culture, and (5) an OSA culture, were employed. It was found that only the aerobic batch culture and the aerobic continuous culture are fastable when the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) level is below 100 mV under no-food condition during a 2-h fasting treatment, showing that both the biomass and carbohydrate storage of these two cultures were reduced after the treatment. When the fasted cultures were treated in a feasting environment, an accumulation of carbohydrate storage did not occur, while specific oxygen uptake rates (SOUR) showed a sharp increase. Both the substrate utilization and biomass growth rates were also accelerated. It was therefore confirmed that a sludge feasting did occur after a fasting treatment for the fastable cultures. However, an increase in sludge ATP content was not brought about by the feasting treatment. The sludge fasting/feasting treatment in this paper could not induce a reduction of the observed growth yield (Y(obs)) in all the cultures cultivated with glucose-based synthetic wastewater.     

Phosphorus removal by acid mine drainage sludge from secondary effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants

Acid mine drainage (AMD) sludge, a waste product from coal mine water treatment, was used in this study as an adsorbent to develop a cost-effective treatment approach to phosphorus removal from municipal secondary effluents. Batch tests were carried out to study the effects of pH, temperature, concentration, and contact time for phosphorus removal from wastewater. Batch tests were followed by continuous flow tests using a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Adsorption of orthophosphate onto AMD sludge particles followed the Freundlich isotherm model with an adsorption capacity ranging from 9.89 to 31.97 mg/g when the final effluent concentration increased from 0.21 to 13.61 mg P/L. P adsorption was found to be a rather rapid process and neutral or acidic pH enhanced phosphorus removal. Based on a thermodynamic assessment, P adsorption by AMD sludge was found to be endothermic; consequently, an increase in temperature could also favor phosphorus adsorption. Results from batch tests showed that leaching of metals common to AMD sludges was not likely to be a major issue of concern over the typical pH range (6-8) of secondary wastewater effluents. CSTR tests with three types of water (synthetic wastewater, river water, and municipal secondary effluent) illustrated that P adsorption by AMD sludge was relatively independent of the presence of other ionic species. In treating municipal secondary effluent, a phosphorus removal efficiency in excess of 98% was obtained. Results of this study indicated that it was very promising to utilize AMD sludge for phosphorus removal from secondary effluents and may be relevant to future efforts focused on the control of eutrophication in surface waters.     

Infectivity of Giardia lamblia cysts obtained from wastewater treated with ultraviolet light

Several waterborne outbreaks of giardiasis have been linked to discharge of wastewater effluents into surface water. Little is known about the infectivity of Giardia lamblia cysts present in UV treated wastewater effluents. In this study, the infectivity of G. lamblia cysts, recovered from primary effluent and secondary effluent, both upstream and downstream of operating full-scale UV reactors at four wastewater treatment plants, was assessed using the Mongolian gerbil model. Infectivity of cysts obtained from the primary effluents was scored as either strong or moderate for induction of infection in gerbils at three out of four wastewater treatment plants. G. lamblia recovered from secondary effluent both upstream and downstream of the UV reactors caused weak infections in the gerbils. The probability of weak infections caused by inoculums of 50-1400 cysts per gerbil was, on the average, reduced by approximately 10% at the four wastewater UV installations with coliform reduction equivalent doses ranging from 6 to 18 mJ/cm². The UV systems provided considerably less inactivation of the parasite than expected based on the UV dose response of Giardia reported in the literature.     

Bioaugmentation with resin-acid-degrading bacteria enhances resin acid removal in sequencing batch reactors treating pulp mill effluents

Resin acids are the major toxicants in pulp and paper mill effluents (PPMEs), and they form pitch interfering with papermaking. Efficient and reliable resin acid removal is critically important to prevent toxicity discharge and ensure proper functioning of paper machines. Two resin-acid-degrading bacteria, Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME-9 and Zoogloea resiniphila DhA-35, were tested in laboratory sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) for their ability to enhance resin acid removal by biomass from a full-scale biotreatment system treating PPMEs. Both bacteria enhanced resin acid removal but not removal of total organic carbon (TOC) by either pH-shocked or starved activated sludge. These two bacteria also increased resin acid removal when the sludge was given high concentration (200 microM) of resin acid. A most-probable-number polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) assay showed that these two bacteria were initially not detectable (detection limit: 10(2) bacterial cells/ml) in the sludge community and were persistent after inoculation. Both bacteria did not substantially change the indigenous microbial community composition, as assayed by ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA). Our results suggest that it is feasible and potentially useful to enhance resin acid removal by bioaugmentation using resin-acid-degrading bacteria such as BKME-9 and DhA-35.     

城市污水培养好氧颗粒污泥及其降解特性

采用低浓度城市生活污水,以好氧絮状活性污泥为接种污泥,在3个不同运行条件的序批式反应器(SBR)中培养好氧颗粒污泥,并考察了其降解特性.结果表明,通过对剪切力、沉降时间等运行参数的调控,3个反应器(R1～R3)分别在第14、16和14天出现了细小颗粒,成熟后的颗粒污泥粒径可达到1.0 mm,其中R1、R2中颗粒的粒径无明显差别,而R3中颗粒的粒径较R1,R2中的略大;成熟的颗粒污泥周围出现大量原生动物,各反应器内污泥的SV1值保持在29-40 mL/g内,显示出良好的沉降性能.成熟的颗粒污泥对有机碳源具有较强的吸附与降解性能,并且具有同步硝化反稍化能力.各反应器出水COD浓度稳定在30 mg/L左右,NH4+-N浓度＜1.0mg/L,对污染物的去除效果良好.     

Oxygen transfer and uptake, nutrient removal, and energy footprint of parallel full-scale IFAS and activated sludge processes

Integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) processes are becoming more popular for both secondary and sidestream treatment in wastewater facilities. These processes are a combination of biofilm reactors and activated sludge processes, achieved by introducing and retaining biofilm carrier media in activated sludge reactors. A full-scale train of three IFAS reactors equipped with AnoxKaldnes media and coarse-bubble aeration was tested using off-gas analysis. This was operated independently in parallel to an existing full-scale activated sludge process. Both processes achieved the same percent removal of COD and ammonia, despite the double oxygen demand on the IFAS reactors. In order to prevent kinetic limitations associated with DO diffusional gradients through the IFAS biofilm, this systems was operated at an elevated dissolved oxygen concentration, in line with the manufacturer’s recommendation. Also, to avoid media coalescence on the reactor surface and promote biofilm contact with the substrate, high mixing requirements are specified. Therefore, the air flux in the IFAS reactors was much higher than that of the parallel activated sludge reactors. However, the standardized oxygen transfer efficiency in process water was almost same for both processes. In theory, when the oxygen transfer efficiency is the same, the air used per unit load removed should be the same. However, due to the high DO and mixing requirements, the IFAS reactors were characterized by elevated air flux and air use per unit load treated. This directly reflected in the relative energy footprint for aeration, which in this case was much higher for the IFAS system than activated sludge.     

A sustainable, carbon neutral methane oxidation by a partnership of methane oxidizing communities and microalgae

Effluents of anaerobic wastewater treatment plants are saturated with methane, an effective greenhouse gas. We propose a novel approach to treat such effluents using a coculture of methane oxidizing communities and microalgae, further indicated as methalgae, which would allow microbial methane oxidation with minimal CO₂ emissions. Coculturing a methane oxidizing community with microalgae in sequence batch reactors under continuous lightning yielded a factor of about 1.6 more biomass relative to the control without microalgae. Moreover, 55% less external oxygen supply was needed to maintain the methane oxidation, as oxygen was produced in situ by the microalgae. An overall methane oxidation rate of 171 ± 27 mg CH₄ L⁻¹ liquid phase d⁻¹ was accomplished in a semi-batch setup, while the excess CO₂ production was lower than 1 mg CO₂ L⁻¹ d⁻¹. Both nitrate and ammonium were feasible nitrogen sources for the methalgae. These results show that a coculture of microalgae and methane oxidizing communities can be used to oxidize dissolved methane under O₂-limiting conditions, which could lead to a novel treatment for dissolved methane in anaerobic effluents.