Biodegradation of selected organic nitrogen compounds in activated sludge systems

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Guo
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Compounds ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

Nitrogen transformations and mass balances in anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic batch experiments with full-scale biomasses from BNR activated sludge systems

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 2463-2470 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mękinia ◽  
H. D. Stensel ◽  
K. Czerwionka ◽  
J. Drewnowski ◽  
D. Zapero
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Aerobic Denitrification ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Chemical Pretreatment ◽  
Mass Balances ◽  
Nitrogen Transformations ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

The aim of this study was to investigate nitrogen mass balances occurring inside full-scale BNR activated sludge systems, with special attention to colloidal and dissolved organic nitrogen (CON and DON) transformations. For this purpose, laboratory experiments were carried out using process biomass from two large BNR plants in northern Poland. Two parallel batch reactors were operated in a 3-phase (anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic) cycle. In one reactor, the settled wastewater without any pretreatment was used, whereas the settled wastewater after coagulation-flocculation (to remove colloidal and particulate fractions) was added to another reactor. The chemical pretreatment of settled wastewater with ZnSO4 did not adversely affect the observed nitrification rates in the (last) aerobic phase. It caused, however, a reduction of denitrification rates in the anoxic phase. Moreover, the chemical pretreatment did not appear to generally decrease DON but decreased CON. DON was explicitly produced in the aerobic phase and organic nitrogen conversion also occurred at a significant rate in the anoxic phase with biodegradable COD consumption and solids hydrolysis. The inorganic N mass balances revealed N losses up to approximately 10% which could be attributed to a few novel pathways of nitrogen removal, most likely aerobic denitrification or simultaneous nitrification/denitrification.

The Effect of Metallic and Ionic Species on the Performance of a Biological Effluent Treatment System

1977 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-212
Author(s):  
B. Volesky ◽  
Q. Samak ◽  
P. Waller
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Inorganic Ions ◽  
Industrial Effluents ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Ionic Species ◽  
Threshold Concentration ◽  
Effluent Treatment ◽  
Organic Load ◽  
Metallic Ions ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

Abstract Review of the available results appearing in the recent literature is presented focusing particularly upon the effects of metallic ions such as Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, V, Zn, Ni and Co. Some original data involving the effects of Na are presented and discussed. Development of parameters used in evaluating the influence of toxic or inhibitory species on the mixed microbial population of an activated sludge system is of crucial importance and different techniques employed such as BOD-COD-TOC-removal rates, Oxygen Uptake Rate, and others are discussed, showing relative inadequacy of currently applied assays. From the data available, certain trends can be discerned. There is a definite threshold concentration for each metallic ion, depending on the organic load of the feed. In the order of increasing toxicity to activated sludge systems reflected in lower BOD removals the following metals have been listed as inhibiting factors at concentrations starting from 1 ppm applied on a continuous basis: hexavalent chromium, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, trivalent chromium, copper and nickel. Metals in combination have not been reported to exhibit any significantly different effects as compared to those observed with individually introduced metallic ions. Tolerance of some activated sludge systems to shock loadings by various inorganic ions and metals is reviewed. The conclusions are of particular importance for estimating the performance of biox systems handling industrial effluents which are likely to contain toxic components of inorganic or metallic nature.

On the Problem of “Two-Phase” Activated Sludge

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Szetela
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Phase System ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Process ◽  
Sludge Stabilization ◽  
Technological Advantage ◽  
In Series ◽  
State Models ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

Steady-state models are presented to describe the wastewater treatment process in two activated sludge systems. One of these makes use of a single complete-mix reactor; the other one involves two complete-mix reactors arranged in series. The in-series system is equivalent to what is known as the “two-phase” activated sludge, a concept which is now being launched throughout Poland in conjunction with the PROMLECZ technology under implementation. Analysis of the mathematical models has revealed the following: (1) treatment efficiency, excess sludge production, energy consumption, and the degree of sludge stabilization are identical in the two systems; (2) there exists a technological equivalence of “two-phase” sludge with “single-phase” sludge; (3) the “two-phase” system has no technological advantage over the “single-phase” system.

The Use of Anoxic Selectors for the Control of Low F/M Activated Sludge Bulking

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 609-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-J. Shao ◽  
David Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Detention Time ◽  
Substrate Removal ◽  
Batch System ◽  
Sludge Bulking ◽  
N Removal ◽  
Soluble Substrate ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

Laboratory and pilot plant experiments on anoxic selector activated sludge systems were conducted on two wastewaters in some cases supplemented with nitrate, acetate or glucose. To prevent bulking sufficient anoxic selector detention time and nitrate levels must be available to reduce selector effluent soluble COD to below 100 mg/l and to reduce readily metabolizable organic matter to virtually zero (< 1 mg/l). Soluble COD/NO3-N removal stoichiometry is in the range 6.0-6.7. Selector systems have elevated soluble substrate removal and denitrification rates compared to CSTR systems. These rates are not affected greatly by temperature (20-25°C) for CSTR sludges but are for selector sludges. Upon exhaustion of nitrate in a selector soluble COD leaks out of the activated sludge in significant amounts. Thiothrix sp. and type 021N denitrify only to NO2 and at much slower rates than Zoogloearamigera does to N2. A sequencing batch system provides an optimistic estimate of the SVI that can be obtained by an anoxic selector system.

Quantification of the kinetic differences between communities isolated from completely mixed activated sludge systems operated with or without a selector using a novel respirometric method

1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 255-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barth F. Smets ◽  
Timothy G. Ellis ◽  
Stephanie Brau ◽  
Richard W. Sanders ◽  
C. P. Leslie Grady
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Biodegradation Kinetics ◽  
Substrate Removal ◽  
Biomass Yields ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Single Oxygen ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

This study quantified the kinetic differences in microbial communities isolated from completely mixed activated sludge (CMAS) systems that were operated either with or without an aerobic selector preceding the main reactor. A new respirometric method was employed that allowed the determination of biodegradation kinetics from single oxygen consumption curves, thereby minimizing physiological changes to the examined communities during the assay. Results indicated that increased values for Ks and μmax for acetate, phenol, and 4-chlorophenol degradation were measured in the CMAS system operated with a selector. The biomass yields on acetate, phenol, and 4-chlorophenol were very similar in both systems. These findings indicate that the operation of CMAS systems with aerobic selectors may result in the selection for degrading populations with higher Ks and μmax values for both biogenic and xenobiotic organic compounds, and that substrate storage in the selector only partially contributes to increased substrate removal rates.

Small Activated Sludge Performance and Viability Characteristics under Intermittent and Reduced Flows

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 309-316
Author(s):  
Bilsen Beler Baykal
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Generation Model ◽  
Transient States ◽  
Stepwise Manner ◽  
Seasonal Basis ◽  
Soluble Substrate ◽  
House Site ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

Small activated sludge systems operate in transient states under intermittent and variable flows. Simulations for such a treatment plant in a summer house site operating on a seasonal basis is investigated for system performance and viability using the five component inert soluble substrate generation model. The results have revealed that the viability drops to zero within the first month after the cessation of the feed for intermittently loaded systems that are fed during the summer months, while it never reaches that value for systems operating all year round with reduced flows off season. Restartup is compulsory for the intermittent loadings while the system adapts itself in a stepwise manner for the year round operation. Other factors being comparable, conventional operation with shorter sludge ages may be preferable since viability of the sludge is higher and the effluent COD is comparable.

Verification of anoxic phosphate uptake as the main biochemical mechanism of the “dephanox” process

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sorm ◽  
J. Wanner ◽  
R. Saltarelli ◽  
G. Bortone ◽  
A. Tilche
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Uptake Rate ◽  
Phosphate Uptake ◽  
Biochemical Mechanism ◽  
Batch Experiments ◽  
Batch Tests ◽  
Genetic Probes ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems ◽  
Removal System

The phenomenon of anoxic phosphate uptake with simultaneous denitrification was studied. For this purpose kinetic batch tests have been carried out by using the activated sludge samples from three modifications of nutrient removal activated sludge systems: two based on an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2/O) system and a third on an anaerobic-oxic (A/O) system. The results showed significant differences in anoxic phosphate uptake rate between activated sludge which was alternatively exposed to anoxic conditions and activated sludge from the A/O arrangement. These differences were also accompanied by different denitrification rates. Simultaneously with batch experiments the microscopic observation of activated sludge samples was carried out. Neisser and Gram stained samples showed clear differences in shape, size and distribution of polyphosphate accumulating bacteria between A2/O and A/O Processes. Moreover, experiments performed using genetic probes confirmed the differences in microbiological composition of activated sludge samples from different nutrient removal system arrangements.

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