scholarly journals A case for aerobic sludge granulation: from pilot to full scale

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 188-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Yang ◽  
J. Li ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
L. B. Ding ◽  
T. Chen ◽  
...  

A pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating 120 m3/d of a town's wastewater was set up in 2009 and aerobic granules with a mean diameter of 0.28 mm, mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of 7,500 mg/L and sludge volume index (SVI)30 of 43 mL/g were achieved. A full-scale SBR with 50,000 m3/d for treating a town's wastewater was operated in 2010 and aerobic granules with a mean MLSS of 2,285 mg/L and SVI30 of 52.5 mL/g were obtained. Aerobic granules had excellent performances of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4+-N removal and remained stable for a long time. Raw wastewater and SBR operating mode had a positive effect on aerobic granule formation. Therefore, aerobic granular technology could be successfully applied in the full-scale bioreactor under specific conditions. Future development of aerobic granular technology is the application in full-scale continuous-flow reactors.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 374
Author(s):  
Hongbo Feng ◽  
Honggang Yang ◽  
Jianlong Sheng ◽  
Zengrui Pan ◽  
Jun Li

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) with oversized diameter commonly affects its stability and pollutant removal. In order to effectively restrict the particle size of AGS, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a spiny aeration device was put forward. A conventional SBR (R1) and an SBR (R2) with the spiny aeration device treating tannery wastewater were compared in the laboratory. The result indicates that the size of the granular sludge from R2 was smaller than that from R1 with sludge granulation. The spines and air bubbles could effectively restrict the particle size of AGS by collision and abrasion. Nevertheless, there was no significant change in mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and the sludge volume index (SVI) in either bioreactors. The removal (%) of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) in these two bioreactors did not differ from each other greatly. The analysis of biological composition displays that the proportion of Proteobacteria decreased slightly in R2. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed less accumulation of Fe and Ca in smaller granules. Furthermore, a pilot-scale SBR with a spiny aeration device was successfully utilized to restrict the diameter of granules at about 300 μm.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 157-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.M. Kim ◽  
S.H. Kim ◽  
H.C. Choi ◽  
I.S. Kim

In order to enhance the solidÐliquid separation properties and nitrogen removal efficiency of SBR, the aerobic floc-like granules were cultivated under temporal alternating aerobic and anoxic conditions without the presence of carrier material in a SBR having 15 H/D (height/diameter) ratio. Two different effluent port positions were applied to the SBR for different selection of minimum settling velocities (over 0.6 and 0.7 m/h) of granules retained in the SBR during aerobic floc-like granule formation. The effect of different minimum settling velocities as an operational parameter on the size and solidÐliquid separation properties of floc-like granules and also the COD and nitrogen removal of SBR were evaluated. The reactor was operated 6 hours per cycle (aerobic 4.75 hours, anoxic 1.25 hours) under chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate of 2.5 kg/m3·d (1.3 kg acetate-COD and 1.2 kg glucose-COD). When increasing the minimum settling velocity by 0.1 m/h, the following results were observed at steady state. The nitrification efficiency was not changed at about 97% but the denitrification efficiency was improved from 78 to 97%. The COD removal efficiency was improved from 82 to 97% and the concentration of biomass in the reactor was retained at lower level at about 3,000 mg MLSS/L. The average sludge volume index (SVI) value of granules was decreased about 85 to 50 mL/g and the granule sizes were increased 0.1-0.5 mm to 1.0-2.0 mm. The required time to form granules and reach steady state was significantly shortened. Based on the results, the selection of the minimum settling velocity had a significant effect on both the physical properties of granules and the SBR performance, so it is suggested to use the minimum settling velocity as an operational parameter.


Author(s):  
Sara Toja Ortega ◽  
Mario Pronk ◽  
Merle K. de Kreuk

Abstract Complex substrates, like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, are major components of domestic wastewater, and yet their degradation in biofilm-based wastewater treatment technologies, such as aerobic granular sludge (AGS), is not well understood. Hydrolysis is considered the rate-limiting step in the bioconversion of complex substrates, and as such, it will impact the utilization of a large wastewater COD (chemical oxygen demand) fraction by the biofilms or granules. To study the hydrolysis of complex substrates within these types of biomass, this paper investigates the anaerobic activity of major hydrolytic enzymes in the different sludge fractions of a full-scale AGS reactor. Chromogenic substrates were used under fully mixed anaerobic conditions to determine lipase, protease, α-glucosidase, and β-glucosidase activities in large granules (>1 mm in diameter), small granules (0.2–1 mm), flocculent sludge (0.045–0.2 mm), and bulk liquid. Furthermore, composition and hydrolytic activity of influent wastewater samples were determined. Our results showed an overcapacity of the sludge to hydrolyze wastewater soluble and colloidal polymeric substrates. The highest specific hydrolytic activity was associated with the flocculent sludge fraction (1.5–7.5 times that of large and smaller granules), in agreement with its large available surface area. However, the biomass in the full-scale reactor consisted of 84% large granules, making the large granules account for 55–68% of the total hydrolytic activity potential in the reactor. These observations shine a new light on the contribution of large granules to the conversion of polymeric COD and suggest that large granules can hydrolyze a significant amount of this influent fraction. The anaerobic removal of polymeric soluble and colloidal substrates could clarify the stable granule formation that is observed in full-scale installations, even when those are fed with complex wastewaters. Key points • Large and small granules contain >70% of the hydrolysis potential in an AGS reactor. • Flocculent sludge has high hydrolytic activity but constitutes <10% VS in AGS. • AGS has an overcapacity to hydrolyze complex substrates in domestic wastewater. Graphical abstract


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjun Mao ◽  
Xie Quan ◽  
Huimin Zhao ◽  
Yaobin Zhang ◽  
Shuo Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract The activated sludge (AS) process is widely applied in dyestuff wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs); however, the nitrogen removal efficiency is relatively low and the effluent does not meet the indirect discharge standards before being discharged into the industrial park's WWTP. Hence it is necessary to upgrade the WWTP with more advanced technologies. Moving bed biofilm processes with suspended carriers in an aerobic tank are promising methods due to enhanced nitrification and denitrification. Herein, a pilot-scale integrated free-floating biofilm and activated sludge (IFFAS) process was employed to investigate the feasibility of enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The results showed that the effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrate (NH4+-N) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations of the IFFAS process were significantly lower than those of the AS process, and could meet the indirect discharge standards. PCR-DGGE and FISH results indicated that more nitrifiers and denitrifiers co-existed in the IFFAS system, promoting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Based on the pilot results, the IFFAS process was used to upgrade the full-scale AS process, and the effluent COD, NH4+-N and TN of the IFFAS process were 91–291 mg/L, 10.6–28.7 mg/L and 18.9–48.6 mg/L, stably meeting the indirect discharge standards and demonstrating the advantages of IFFAS in dyestuff wastewater treatment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 988-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadesse Alemu ◽  
Andualem Mekonnen ◽  
Seyoum Leta

Abstract In the present study, a pilot scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (CW) system planted with Phragmites karka; longitudinal profile was studied. The wetland was fed with tannery wastewater, pretreated in a two-stage anaerobic digester followed by a sequence batch reactor. Samples from each CW were taken and analyzed using standard methods. The removal efficiency of the CW system in terms of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Cr and total coliforms were 91.3%, 90%, 97.3% and 99%, respectively. The removal efficiency for TN, NO3− and NH4+-N were 77.7%, 66.3% and 67.7%, respectively. Similarly, the removal efficiency of SO42−, S2− and total suspended solids (TSS) were 71.8%, 88.7% and 81.2%, respectively. The concentration of COD, BOD, TN, NO3−N, NH4+-N, SO42 and S2− in the final treated effluent were 113.2 ± 52, 56 ± 18, 49.3 ± 13, 22.75 ± 20, 17.1 ± 6.75, 88 ± 120 and 0.4 ± 0.44 mg/L, respectively. Pollutants removal was decreased in the first 12 m and increased along the CW cells. P. karka development in the first cell of CW was poor, small in size and experiencing chlorosis, but clogging was higher in this area due to high organic matter settling, causing a partial surface flow. The performance of the pilot CW as a tertiary treatment showed that the effluent meets the permissible discharge standards.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Salem ◽  
D. Berends ◽  
J.J. Heijnen ◽  
M.C.M. van Loosdrecht

Mathematical modelling is considered a time and cost-saving tool for evaluation of new wastewater treatment concepts. Modelling can help to bridge the gap between lab and full-scale application. Bio-augmentation can be used to obtain nitrification in activated sludge systems with a limited aerobic sludge retention time. In the present study the potential for augmenting the endogenous nitrifying population is evaluated. Implementing a nitrification reactor in the sludge return line fed with sludge liquor with a high ammonia concentration leads to augmentation of the native nitrifying population. Since the behaviour of nitrifiers is relatively well known, a choice was made to evaluate this new concept mainly based on mathematical modelling. As an example an existing treatment plant (wwtp Walcheren, The Netherlands) that needed to be upgraded was used. A mathematical model, based on the TUDP model and implemented in AQUASIM was developed and used to evaluate the potential of this bioaugmentation in the return sludge line. A comparison was made between bio-augmentation and extending the existing aeration basins and anoxic tanks. The results of both modified systems were compared to give a quantitative basis for evaluation of benefits gained from such a system. If the plant is upgraded by conventional extension it needs an increase in volume of about 225%; using a bioaugmentation in the return sludge line the total volume of the tanks needs to be expanded by only 75% (including the side stream tanks). Based on the modelling results a decision was made to implement the bioaugmentation concept at full scale without further pilot scale testing, thereby strongly decreasing the scale-up period for this process.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Li-Bin Ding ◽  
Ang Cai ◽  
Guo-Xian Huang ◽  
Harald Horn

Aerobic granulation of activated sludge was successfully achieved in a full-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with 50,000 m3 d−1for treating a town’s wastewater. After operation for 337 days, in this full-scale SBR, aerobic granules with an average SVI30of 47.1 mL g−1, diameter of 0.5 mm, and settling velocity of 42 m h−1were obtained. Compared to an anaerobic/oxic plug flow (A/O) reactor and an oxidation ditch (OD) being operated in this wastewater treatment plant, the sludge from full-scale SBR has more compact structure and excellent settling ability. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis indicated thatFlavobacteriumsp., uncultured beta proteobacterium, unculturedAquabacteriumsp., and unculturedLeptothrixsp. were just dominant in SBR, whereas uncultured bacteroidetes were only found in A/O and OD. Three kinds of sludge had a high content of protein in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed that metal ions and some inorganics from raw wastewater precipitated in sludge acted as core to enhance granulation. Raw wastewater characteristics had a positive effect on the granule formation, but the SBR mode operating with periodic feast-famine, shorter settling time, and no return sludge pump played a crucial role in aerobic sludge granulation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1237-1243
Author(s):  
Gregor D. Zupanèiè ◽  
Viktor Grilc ◽  
Milenko Roš ◽  
Nataša Uranjek-Ževart

An autothermal aerobic sequencing batch process for sludge digestion and “class A” biosolids production was developed. The process was tested in laboratory and pilot scale size up to 150 PE, which can be considered a full scale size in some cases. In this process the maximum temperatures of 61.2°C and 60.2°C were achieved in laboratory scale in pilot scale equipment, respectively. The degradation efficiency of total chemical oxygen demand of sludge was between 50 and 70%. Similar results were achieved using pure oxygen in laboratory scale and oxygen/air mixture 1:1 by volume. The reactor scale greatly affects the achievement of thermophilic temperature. In smaller sizes the convective heat losses are the prevailing heat sink and the process is unable to produce enough heat to reach thermophilic temperature. Larger systems produce excess heat and can be installed with less intense aeration systems. The limit of air aeration system is at the size of about 500 PE.


2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 746-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei Long ◽  
Chang-zhu Yang ◽  
Wen-hong Pu ◽  
Jia-kuan Yang ◽  
Guo-sheng Jiang ◽  
...  

Mature aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was inoculated for the start-up of a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor for the treatment of high concentration solvent recovery raffinate (SRR). The proportion of simulated wastewater (SW) (w/w) in the influent gradually decreased to zero during the operation, while volume of SRR gradually increased from zero to 10.84 L. AGS was successfully domesticated after 48 days, which maintained its structure during the operation. The domesticated AGS was orange, irregular, smooth and compact. Sludge volume index (SVI), SV30/SV5, mixed liquor volatile suspended solids/mixed liquor suspended solids (MLVSS/MLSS), extracellular polymeric substances, proteins/polysaccharides, average particle size, granulation rate, specific oxygen utilization rates (SOUR)H and (SOUR)N of AGS were about 38 mL/g, 0.97, 0.52, 39.73 mg/g MLVSS, 1.17, 1.51 mm, 96.66%, 47.40 mg O2/h g volatile suspended solids (VSS) and 8.96 mg O2/h g VSS, respectively. Good removal effect was achieved by the reactor. Finally, the removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), NH4+-N and total phosphorus (TP) were more than 98%, 96%, 97% and 97%, respectively. The result indicated gradually increasing the proportion of real wastewater in influent was a useful domestication method, and the feasibility of AGS for treatment of high C/N ratio industrial wastewater.


2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 1984-1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lana Mallouhi ◽  
Ute Austermann-Haun

Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) are known for high process stability and usually have a good sludge volume index (SVI). Nevertheless, in many SBRs in Germany for municipal wastewater treatment, scum and foam problems can occur, and SVI can be larger than 200 mL/g. The microscopic investigations of the activated sludge from plants with nitrogen and phosphorus removal have shown that Microthrix parvicella is dominant in the activated sludge in most of them. Studies showed that the optimum growth of M. parvicella is performed at a high sludge age (&gt;20 d) and low sludge load in the range of 0.05–0.2 kg of biochemical oxygen demand per kg of total suspended solids per day (kg BOD5/(TSS·d)). The investigations in 13 SBRs with simultaneous aerobic sludge stabilization (most of them are operated with a system called differential internal cycle strategy sequential batch reactor (DIC-SBR)) show that M. parvicella is able to grow in sludge loads less than 0.05 kg BOD5/(kg TSS·d) as well. To optimize the operation of those SBRs, long cycle times (8–12 h) and dosing of iron salts to eliminate long-chain fatty acids are both recommended. This leads to better SVI and keeps M. parvicella at a low frequency.


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