Microbial Fe(II)-oxidation by nitrate in activated sludge

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 403-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeppe Lund Nielsen ◽  
Per Halkjær Nielsen

The oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) by addition of nitrate and nitrite to activated sludge was studied to determine whether the process was biological or chemical (chemodenitrification). It was shown that the process was mainly biological, although the microorganisms involved have not yet been described. Investigations in a full scale treatment plant suggested that the process most likely took place in the anoxic (denitrification) tank. Details of the kinetics and stoichiometry have not yet been determined, but the process may be of significance for keeping Fe(III) oxidized, which is important for P-removal and for floc structure. Furthermore, in some treatment plants, the oxidation may also be of significance for nitrate removal (denitrification).

1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Halkjær Nielsen

The significance of microbial Fe(III) reduction in activated sludge was evaluated with regard to: its importance as electron acceptor; as a producer of acetate during anaerobic conditions; for phosphate release; and for its role in the floc structure. Potential Fe(III) reduction rates were measured in 6 wastewater treatment plants with and without biological P-removal and found to be in the range of 0.9-5.4 mgFe/gVSS h. Assuming an incomplete oxidation of organic matter leading to acetate formation, Fe(III) reduction was a major acetate source, providing substrate to phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAO) during anaerobic conditions. The observed high potential Fe(III) reduction rate might also be responsible for a significant chemical phosphate release due to reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) in clarifies, sludge storage tanks and anaerobic tanks in plants with biological P-removal. Investigation of the concentrations of Fe(II) in a full-scale treatment plant in anaerobic tanks, oxic/anoxic tanks and return sludge indicated that both reduction and reoxidation took place in the treatment plant. Reoxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) in activated sludge was shown to take place with oxygen and probably also during anoxic conditions with nitrate and nitrite as electron acceptors. The results indicate that Fe may be more involved in important processes in activated sludge than hitherto assumed, so a better understanding of Fe interactions in activated sludge is desirable.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Fatima ◽  
S. Jamal Khan

In this study, the performance of wastewater treatment plant located at sector I-9 Islamabad, Pakistan, was evaluated. This full scale domestic wastewater treatment plant is based on conventional activated sludge process. The parameters which were monitored regularly included total suspended solids (TSS), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). It was found that the biological degradation efficiency of the plant was below the desired levels in terms of COD and BOD. Also the plant operators were not maintaining consistent sludge retention time (SRT). Abrupt discharge of MLSS through the Surplus Activated sludge (SAS) pump was the main reason for the low MLSS in the aeration tank and consequently low treatment performance. In this study the SRT was optimized based on desired MLSS concentration between 3,000–3,500 mg/L and required performance in terms of BOD, COD and TSS. This study revealed that SRT is a very important operational parameter and its knowledge and correct implementation by the plant operators should be mandatory.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica R. Brand ◽  
Laurel D. Crosby ◽  
Craig S. Criddle

ABSTRACTMultiple clades within a microbial taxon often coexist within natural and engineered environments. Because closely related clades have similar metabolic potential, it is unclear how diversity is sustained and what factors drive niche differentiation. In this study, we retrieved three near-complete Competibacter lineage genomes from activated sludge metagenomes at a full-scale pure oxygen activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. The three genomes represent unique taxa within theCompetibacteraceae. A comparison of the genomes revealed differences in capacity for exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis, glucose fermentation to lactate, and motility. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), we monitored these clades over a 2-year period. The clade possessing genes for motility and lacking genes for EPS biosynthesis (CPB_P15) was dominant during periods of suspended solids in the effluent. Further analysis of operational parameters indicate that the dominance of the CPB_P15 clade is associated with low-return activated sludge recycle rates and low wasting rates, conditions that maintain relatively high levels of biomass within the system.IMPORTANCEMembers of the Competibacter lineage are relevant in biotechnology as glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs). Here, we document the presence of threeCompetibacteraceaeclades in a full-scale activated sludge wastewater treatment plant and their linkage to specific operational conditions. We find evidence for niche differentiation among the three clades with temporal variability in clade dominance that correlates with operational changes at the treatment plant. Specifically, we observe episodic dominance of a likely motile clade during periods of elevated effluent turbidity, as well as episodic dominance of closely related nonmotile clades that likely enhance floc formation during periods of low effluent turbidity.


1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 383-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Melcer ◽  
J. Bell ◽  
D. Thompson

Pilot plant and full scale investigations were carried out to determine the fate of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in activated sludge aeration basins. Treatability parameters for each VOC were estimated from these investigations and used to calibrate TOXCHEM, computer-based steady state and dynamic models developed to predict the fate of VOCs in municipal activated sludge systems. The pilot plant was fed with wastewater from two different municipal sources. It was operated in parallel with a municipal treatment plant and was found to adequately simulate the performance of the full scale plant. Data suggest that the current models, calibrated with pilot plant data, may produce useful predictions of the fate of VOCs in full scale plants.


1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Florentz ◽  
M. C. Hascoet ◽  
F. Bourdon

In France, all phosphorus removal treatment has been based on precipitation by means of chemical reagents. With a view to reducing costs, a series of laboratory experiments was initiated and subsequently followed up by full-scale studies in early 1984 at the Saint-Mars-la-Jaille treatment plant. This is the first biological P-removal plant to be put on line in France.The plant operates at low loading levels with extended aeration. Nitrification–denitrification is achieved in controlled aerobic and nonaerobic zones through a multi-mini-step process in a plug–flow reactor. Complete nitrate removal results in a release of phosphorus during the anaerobic phase and, hence in a high level of phosphorus accumulation in the aerobic sludge.Phosphorus removal was optimized by replacing the thickener with a new flotation thickener to minimize P-release in the anaerobic sludge blanket. The phosphorus removal levels obtained varied from 35% at the outset of the study to 89% upon stabilization. This paper outlines the basic technical alterations made to ensure efficient phosphorus removal with this type of sewage plant as well as the analytical procedures used, and identifies the polyphosphates accumulated in activated sludge, on the basis of 31-phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P nmr).Results concerning phosphorus removal at low temperatures are also provided. Key words: activated sludge, wastewater treatment, biological phosphate removal, anaerobic conditions, restricted oxygen, nuclear magnetic resonance, flotation, temperature.


2013 ◽  
Vol 225 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina Aboobakar ◽  
Mark Jones ◽  
Peter Vale ◽  
Elise Cartmell ◽  
Gabriela Dotro

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (10) ◽  
pp. 2443-2450 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kragelund ◽  
B. Nilsson ◽  
K. Eskilsson ◽  
A. M. Bøgh ◽  
P. H. Nielsen

Foaming incidents in activated sludge treatment plants are a worldwide problem and occur on a regular basis in both municipal and industrial activated sludge treatment plants. Foaming is most often caused by excessive growth of filamentous bacteria, especially the gram-positive ones affiliated within the Actinobacteria, e.g. the branched Mycolata or CandidatusMicrothrix parvicella. Previous studies have shown that populations of Microthrix can be controlled by addition of certain polyaluminium compounds, but until now no effective chemicals have been identified to control other important foam formers such as the Mycolata. A new chemical (FilamentEx, FEX-120) was tested in full-scale in a Swedish wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with immense foaming problems. In total, three different dosing events were carried out for more than 1 year. After only 8–17 weeks in each period, all foam had disappeared, and dosing of FEX-120 was stopped. Another 11 full-scale WWTPs in different countries were treated with FEX-120 because of severe Mycolata foaming on process tanks. In nine out of 11 plants, where the causative organisms were Gordonia or Skermania, a significant reduction of foam up to 100% was observed after treatment for approx. 10 weeks. In two WWTPs with unknown Mycolata organisms, no reduction was observed.


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