Simultaneous sludge reduction and nutrient removal (SSRNR) with interaction between Tubificidae and microorganisms: A full-scale study

The biodegradation of particulate substrates starts by a hydrolytic stage. Hydrolysis is a slow reaction and usually becomes the rate limiting step of the organic substrates biodegradation. The objective of this work was to evaluate a novel hydrolysis concept based on a modification of the activated sludge model (ASM2d) and to compare it with the original ASM2d model. The hydrolysis concept was developed in order to accurately predict the use of internal carbon sources in enhanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes at a full scale facility located in northern Poland. Both hydrolysis concepts were compared based on the accuracy of their predictions for the main processes taking place at a full-scale facility. From the comparison, it was observed that the modified ASM2d model presented similar predictions to those of the original ASM2d model on the behavior of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4-N, NO3-N, and PO4-P. However, the modified model proposed in this work yield better predictions of the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) (up to 5.6 and 5.7%) as well as in the phosphate release and uptake rates.

Download Full-text

Demonstration of enhanced nutrient removal at two full-scale SBR plants

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2004.0623 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 115-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M. Peters ◽

M. Newland ◽

T. Seviour ◽

T. Broom ◽

T. Bridle

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Removal ◽

Full Scale ◽

Biological Nutrient Removal ◽

Batch Reactors ◽

Simultaneous Nitrification And Denitrification ◽

Sequencing Batch Reactors ◽

Operational Control ◽

The World ◽

High Level ◽

Operational Data

The efficacy of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) to provide high levels of biological nutrient removal has been extensively demonstrated around the world. Environmental Solutions International (ESI) has now constructed over 20 full-scale SBR plants and has confirmed that nutrient removal is enhanced via the process of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Over 18 months of operational data from two plants, operating in distinctly different catchments, processing an average of between 2,000 and 2,500 m3/d of wastewater, has clearly shown the efficacy and robustness of the ESI SBR-BNR process. Median effluent total nitrogen and total phosphorus values of 3 mg/L and <0.6 mg/L, respectively, were demonstrated over the 18-month period. This high level of nutrient removal is attributed to the design of the bio-selector which maximises carbon storage for the subsequent denitrification reactions, the effective aeration control which ensures no over-aeration during the air-on cycle as well as the level of operational control provided at these two plants.

Download Full-text

The effects of a full-scale anaerobic side-stream reactor on sludge decay and biomass activity

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2019.104 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 79 (6) ◽

pp. 1081-1091 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

V. F. Velho ◽

G. Andreottola ◽

P. Foladori ◽

R. H. R. Costa

Keyword(s):

Activated Sludge ◽

Mass Balance ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Full Scale ◽

Sludge Reduction ◽

Solid Mass ◽

Anaerobic Conditions ◽

Side Stream ◽

Biomass Activity ◽

Heterotrophic Biomass

Abstract A full-scale anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) for sludge reduction was monitored in terms of sludge production and compared with the previous conventional activated sludge configuration (CAS). A detailed solid mass balance was calculated on the whole full-scale plant to estimate the sludge reduction associated with the ASSR. The activity of the biomass, which undergoes alternation of aerobic and anaerobic conditions, was investigated by the respirometric test. The ASSR promoted a reduction of heterotrophic biomass activity and the substrate consumption rate in the activated sludge implemented with ASSR (AS + ASSR) was 36% smaller than in the CAS period. The solid mass balance indicated a sludge reduction of 28%. During the 270-day operation, the observed sludge yield passed from 0.438 kgTSS/kgCOD in the CAS to 0.315 in the AS + ASSR configuration. The solubilization of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+-N and orthophosphate were verified under anaerobic conditions. The results suggest that the possible mechanisms of sludge reduction were the increase of the system sludge retention time (SRT) by ASSR addition, and the reduction in heterotrophic biomass activity added to the organic compounds' hydrolysis.

Download Full-text

Full Scale Application of a Novel Sludge Ozonation Process for Achieving up to 80% Excess Sludge Reduction at a 25,000 m3/day Municipal Wastewater Plant

Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation ◽

10.2175/193864708788734043 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2008 (14) ◽

pp. 2970-2980

Author(s):

Malcolm. E. Fabiyi ◽

Richard Novak ◽

Roberto Capra

Keyword(s):

Municipal Wastewater ◽

Full Scale ◽

Sludge Reduction ◽

Excess Sludge ◽

Excess Sludge Reduction ◽

Ozonation Process

Download Full-text

Strict anaerobic side-stream reactor: effect of the sludge interchange ratio on sludge reduction in a biological nutrient removal process

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-017-0448-6 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 1243-1256 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Roberta Ferrentino ◽

Michela Langone ◽

Roberta Villa ◽

Gianni Andreottola

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Removal ◽

Biological Nutrient Removal ◽

Sludge Reduction ◽

Removal Process ◽

Side Stream

Download Full-text

The Microbial Database for Danish wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal (MiDas-DK) – a tool for understanding activated sludge population dynamics and community stability

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2013.151 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 67 (11) ◽

pp. 2519-2526 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

A. T. Mielczarek ◽

A. M. Saunders ◽

P. Larsen ◽

M. Albertsen ◽

M. Stevenson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Activated Sludge ◽

Nutrient Removal ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Temporal Variations ◽

Full Scale ◽

16S Rrna Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Specific Factors ◽

Operational Data

Since 2006 more than 50 Danish full-scale wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal have been investigated in a project called ‘The Microbial Database for Danish Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants with Nutrient Removal (MiDas-DK)’. Comprehensive sets of samples have been collected, analyzed and associated with extensive operational data from the plants. The community composition was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) supported by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and deep metagenomics. MiDas-DK has been a powerful tool to study the complex activated sludge ecosystems, and, besides many scientific articles on fundamental issues on mixed communities encompassing nitrifiers, denitrifiers, bacteria involved in P-removal, hydrolysis, fermentation, and foaming, the project has provided results that can be used to optimize the operation of full-scale plants and carry out trouble-shooting. A core microbial community has been defined comprising the majority of microorganisms present in the plants. Time series have been established, providing an overview of temporal variations in the different plants. Interestingly, although most microorganisms were present in all plants, there seemed to be plant-specific factors that controlled the population composition thereby keeping it unique in each plant over time. Statistical analyses of FISH and operational data revealed some correlations, but less than expected. MiDas-DK (www.midasdk.dk) will continue over the next years and we hope the approach can inspire others to make similar projects in other parts of the world to get a more comprehensive understanding of microbial communities in wastewater engineering.

Download Full-text