Performance of family-size sequencing batch reactor and rotating biological contactor units treating sewage at various operating conditions

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Akunna ◽  
C. Jefferies

Field trials were carried out using two types of package units designed for the treatment of domestic sewage from individual households. One of the units was a commercially available rotating biological contactor (RBC) system. The other was a newly developed sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system. Trials were carried at the site of a local sewage treatment plant where degritted raw sewage from a combined sewerage network was fed to the two units for a period of four months. Both units produced good effluent quality, well below 20/30 (BOD/SS) during steady-state performance. However, shorter start-up time was observed with the SBR unit together with better effluent quality (up to BOD<10 mg/l and SS<15 mg/l). Furthermore, the SBR unit produced effluents with ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus levels of 3 mg/l and 2 mg/l respectively, for influent levels that varied from 20 to 60 mg N-NH3/l and from 15 to 17 mg/l of total phosphorus. On the other hand, significant nutrient removal did not seem tohave occurred in the RBC unit. During testing to meet the requirements of British Standard (BS 6297), it was observed that the SBR can tolerate shockloads and periods following zero flow better than the RBC unit.

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-99
Author(s):  
Samaneh Alijantabar aghouzi

Study on ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus removal using sequencing batch reactor Samaneh Alijantabar Aghouzi * Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Malaysia   Thomas S. Y. Choong Sustainable Process Engineering Research Center (SPERC) Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Malaysia   Aida Isma M. I. Centre for Water Research, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment SEGi University, Kota Damansara Malaysia   *Corrosponding author’s Email: [email protected]                   Peer-review under responsibility of 3rd Asia International Multidisciplanry Conference 2019 editorial board (http://www.utm.my/asia/our-team/) © 2019 Published by Readers Insight Publisher, lat 306 Savoy Residencia, Block 3 F11/1,44000 Islamabad. Pakistan, [email protected] This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).     _________________________________________________________   Research Highlights   The highest phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies were 99.5% and 51%, respectively, in 6 hours. Particle size of sludge reduced from 26 μm to 39.81 μm in 60 days. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that N-O, N–H, S=O and C=N compunds detected. ___________________________________________________________________________   Research Objectives   Ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus removal have becoming more rigorous in permits making it one of the most important and most difficult processes to maintain in wastewater treatment plants. Sequencing batch reactor is a controlled activated sludge process that is able to tackle ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus issues and has some benefits such as having a small-scale system and low construction cost (1). The main goal of this research is to investigate the ability of SBR in treating sewage containing phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen in 6 hours to achieve the allowable effluent discharge standard set by the Department of Environment Malaysia.     Materials and Methods   In this experiment, a sequencing batch reactor with a total volume of 7 L. The mechanical stirrer was used to avoid sludge settling with a speed of 100 rpm. A fine bubble diffuser was used to supply air. The operation time was controlled based on 1 h and 30 mins anaerobic, 2 h and 10 mins anoxic, 1 h and 50 mins aerobic, making the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 hours. 10 L seed sludge and 30 L raw sewage samples were collected weekly from the sewage treatment plant that was located in Selangor and were kept under 4oC in cold room in order to obtain fresh samples. The sludge volume was 30% of raw sewage volume in the reactor and the reactor refilled with 3.5 liters of raw sewage at the start point of the experiment. The experiment was carried out in room temperature of  27±3 oC with the pH value ranging from 6 to 8 and dissolve oxygen value ranging from 0 to 6 mg/L. Phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen were measured according to the APHA method (2). DO and PH were measured by using DO meter (JPB-70A) and PH meter (CT-6821, Shenzhen Kedida Electronic CO).     Results   The highest ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies observed to be 31.9 %, 10.3 % and 38.8 % at the respective phases of anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic, respectively. Results showed that the phosphorus removal efficiencies for anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic phases were 70.43 %, 19.16%, and 98.58%, respectively in 6 hours. The highest phosphorus removal efficiency recorded was 98.58% that took place in the aerobic phase because of the absence of sufficient nitrate which can inhibit phosphorus uptake during the aerobic phase. The most sensitive process is nitrification that helps to biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, which is performed by two types of microorganisms, i.e. ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) (3). Karl et al. claimed that toxic substances inhibit the metabolism of bacteria (4). Mino et al. (5) also stated that nitrification process will not be accomplished in anaerobic phase without the presence of nitrate. This will affect the phosphorus uptake in the aeration phase.   Findings   FTIR spectrum shows that N-O, N–H, S=O and C=N compounds were identified in the sludge. The presence of these compounds might affect the nitrification and denitrification processes and indirectly affecting the degradation the ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus. Sewage sample might also contain heavy metals as the sewage treatment plant was located in the industrial area.     Acknowledgment   The authors gratefully thank the financial and research support of Universiti Putra Malaysia.   References Sathian, S, M Rajasimman, C S Rathnasabapathy, and C Karthikeyan. 2014. “Journal of Water Process Engineering Performance Evaluation of SBR for the Treatment of Dyeing Wastewater by Simultaneous Biological and Adsorption Processes.” Journal of Water Process Engineering 4: 82–90. APHA. Standard Methods For the examination of water and Wastewater 23rd ed. ed. Washington, D.C.2017. Chang HN, Moon RK, Park BG, Lim S, Choi DW. Simulation of sequential batch reactor ( SBR ) operation for simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. 2000;23. Karl DM, States U. Nitrogen Cycle ☆. 3rd ed. Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 3rd Edition. Elsevier Inc.; 2018. 1-10 p. Mino T, Loosdrecht MCM van, Heijnen JJ. Microbiology and biochemistry of the EBPR process. Water Res. 1998;32(11):3193–207.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Al-Shididi ◽  
M. Henze ◽  
Z. Ujang

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system for implementation in Malaysia. Theoretical, field, laboratory investigations, and modelling simulations have been carried out. The results of the study indicated that the SBR system was robust, relatively cost-effective, and efficient under Malaysian conditions. However, the SBR system requires highly skilled operators and continuous monitoring. This paper also attempted to identify operating conditions for the SBR system, which optimise both the removal efficiencies and the removal rates. The removal efficiencies could reach 90–96% for COD, up to 92% for TN, and 95% for SS. An approach to estimate a full operational cycle time, to estimate the de-sludging rate, and to control the biomass in the sludge has also been developed. About 4 hours react time was obtained, as 2.25 hours of nitrification with aerated slow fill and 1.75 hour of denitrification with HAc addition as an additional carbon source. Inefficient settling was one of the problems that affect the SBR effluent quality. The settling time was one hour for achieving Standard B (effluent quality) and 2 hours for Standard A.


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 405-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Chambers ◽  
J. Whitaker ◽  
A. F. Elvidge

In the UK there are over 7000 small works which treat the sewage from populations of less than 10,000. Many of these works are at risk of non-compliance with effluent quality consents and options for improving the standard of treatment are being pursued by many utilities. WRc and Anglian Water Services have developed designs for packaged sewage treatment plants to serve populations in the range of 1000-10,000. A demonstration plant has been constructed at the Waterbeach STW of Anglian Water to serve a population of about 6,500. Target effluent quality is 15:20:5mg/l of BOD, SS and ammonia nitrogen respectively on a 95 percentile basis. Following plant commissioning a process performance evaluation programme was commenced in February 1991. Nitrification was established after about 6 weeks of operation but suspended solids values have been affected by the presence of a stable foam on the surface of the aeration tank. Process modifications have reduced the effect of this phenomenon substantially and effluent quality has improved.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Chiavola ◽  
R. Baciocchi ◽  
R.L. Irvine ◽  
R. Gavasci ◽  
P. Sirini

The aim of the present study was to investigate how phenol modifies, through cometabolism, the biodegrading capability of 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) in a sequencing batch reactor seeded with a mixed culture obtained from a domestic sewage treatment plant. Two laboratory-scale SBRs, one fed 3-CP only and the other fed 3-CP and phenol in the same concentration, were seeded with the partially acclimated biomass. The removal capability in both reactors was measured for progressive increases in the feed organic loading. Cometabolism enhanced biodegradation of 3-CP by reducing both the initial lag period and the time required for the complete removal. 700 mg/L 3-CP was demonstrated to be the highest concentration, which could be completely degraded during the active phase (fill plus react) either in the presence or absence of phenol as the growth substrate even though the lag period was shorter when phenol was present. The operating strategy required modification for the complete removal of 800 mg/L 3-CP. An increase in the phenol to 3-CP ratio did, however, improve 3-CP degradation rate.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cohen ◽  
G. Janssen ◽  
S. D. Brewster ◽  
R. Seeley ◽  
A. A. Boogert ◽  
...  

Morrinsville Sewage Treatment Plant has recently been upgraded to an Extended Aeration SBR. The plant needs to comply with stringent discharge requirements despite the variations in organic and hydraulic load caused by tradewaste discharges and stormwater infiltration. Effluent data from a nearby dairy factory is transmitted to the treatment plant by radio and processed by a back propagation neural network trained to correlate the data with the corresponding BOD. BOD oxidation, nitrification and denitrification rate constants are estimated by fuzzy systems as function of temperature and MLVSS. Output data generated by the model are used to assist control of SBR cycle duration, sludge wasting, and temporary storage of excessive load in a lagoon. The model does not pretend to provide an accurate description of the process, nor a fully optimised control system, but rather a common-sense approach to the very challenging operating conditions. This is a plant receiving a low level of supervision and it is expected that the control system will improve process performance and compliance with discharge requirements.


1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.F. Gemza

Abstract Severn Sound continues to exhibit signs of eutrophication despite initial identification of the problem in 1969 and the construction of several sewage treatment plants since then. In general, improvements in trophic state indicators have been marginal, suggesting that the sewage treatment plants have had limited success in controlling phosphorus concentrations. These discharges likely contributed to the increased total phosphorus levels and consequently the higher phytoplankton densities of the nearshore waters. Phytoplankton biovolumes were on average one order of magnitude higher than in the open waters of Lake Huron with mean summer biovolumes as high as 8.0 mm/L. Algal biovolumes were most dense in Penetang Bay, which experienced limited exchange with the main waters of the sound. No significant long-term trends were observed. Water clarity was declining significantly, however, at a rate of -0.60 to -0.78 m/year throughout the sound except in Sturgeon Bay. Total phosphorus levels were highly variable from year to year; however, concentrations from a 20-year perspective were declining in the open waters at a rate of 0.70 µg/L/year, but response was limited in nearshore areas. In Sturgeon Bay, mean annual euphotic zone total phosphorus as well as soluble reactive phosphorus levels declined by as much as 50% following the construction of a sewage treatment plant with tertiary treatment. Phytoplankton genera typical of eutrophic waters continued to dominate the algal assemblage but members indicative of mesotrophic conditions have become apparent in some areas of the sound.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 237-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Carucci ◽  
M. Majone ◽  
R. Ramadori ◽  
S. Rossetti

This paper describes a lab-scale experimentation carried out to study enhanced biological phosphate removal (EBPR) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The synthetic feed used was based on peptone and glucose as organic substrate to simulate the readily biodegradable fraction of a municipal wastewater (Wentzel et al., 1991). The experimental work was divided into two runs, each characterized by different operating conditions. The phosphorus removal efficiency was considerably higher in the absence of competition for organic substrate between P-accumulating and denitrifying bacteria. The activated sludge consisted mainly of peculiar microorganisms recently described by Cech and Hartman (1990) and called “G bacteria”. The results obtained seem to be inconsistent with the general assumption that the G bacteria are characterized by anaerobic substrate uptake not connected with any polyphosphate metabolism. Supplementary anaerobic batch tests utilizing glucose, peptone and acetate as organic substrates show that the role of acetate in the biochemical mechanisms promoting EBPR may not be so essential as it has been assumed till now.


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