Effects of ferrous iron on the performance and microbial community in aerobic granular sludge in relation to nutrient removal

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 716-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulsum Yilmaz ◽  
Ender Cetin ◽  
Umit Bozkurt ◽  
Karin Aleksanyan Magden
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Ferrous Iron ◽  
Granular Sludge ◽  
Aerobic Granular Sludge

scholarly journals Effect of an Increased Particulate COD Load on the Aerobic Granular Sludge Process: A Full Scale Study

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1472
Author(s):  
Sara Toja Ortega ◽  
Mario Pronk ◽  
Merle K. de Kreuk
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Granular Sludge ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Test Period ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Aerobic Granular Sludge ◽  
Hydrolytic Activities

High concentrations of particulate COD (pCOD) in the influent of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems are often associated to small granule diameter and a large fraction of flocculent sludge. At high particulate concentrations even granule stability and process performance might be compromised. However, pilot- or full-scale studies focusing on the effect of real wastewater particulates on AGS are scarce. This study describes a 3-month period of increased particulate loading at a municipal AGS wastewater treatment plant. The pCOD concentration of the influent increased from 0.5 g COD/L to 1.3 g COD/L, by adding an untreated slaughterhouse wastewater source to the influent. Sludge concentration, waste sludge production and COD and nutrient removal performance were monitored. Furthermore, to investigate how the sludge acclimatises to a higher influent particulate content, lipase and protease hydrolytic activities were studied, as well as the microbial community composition of the sludge. The composition of the granule bed and nutrient removal efficiency did not change considerably by the increased pCOD. Interestingly, the biomass-specific hydrolytic activities of the sludge did not increase during the test period either. However, already during normal operation the aerobic granules and flocs exhibited a hydrolytic potential that exceeded the influent concentrations of proteins and lipids. Microbial community analysis also revealed a high proportion of putative hydrolysing and fermenting organisms in the sludge, both during normal operation and during the test period. The results of this study highlight the robustness of the full-scale AGS process, which can bear a substantial increase in the influent pCOD concentration during an extended period.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document