Anoxic growth of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) in biological nutrient removal activated sludge systems

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (19) ◽  
pp. 4927-4937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-rong Hu ◽  
M.C Wentzel ◽  
G.A Ekama
1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
George A. Ekama ◽  
Mark C. Wentzel

Filamentous bulking and the long sludge age required for nitrification are two important factors that limit the wastewater treatment capacity of biological nutrient removal (BNR) activated sludge systems. A growing body of observations from full-scale plants indicate support for the hypothesis that a significant stimulus for filamentous bulking in BNR systems in alternating anoxic-aerobic conditions with the presence of oxidized nitrogen at the transition from anoxic to aerobic. In the DEPHANOX system, nitrification takes place externally allowing sludge age and filamentous bulking to be reduced and increases treatment capacity. Anoxic P uptake is exploited in this system but it appears that this form of biological excess P removal (BEPR) is significantly reduced compared with aerobic P uptake in conventional BNR systems. Developments in the understanding of the BEPR processes of (i) phosphate accumulating organism (PAO) denitrification and anoxic P uptake, (ii) fermentation of influent readily biodegradable (RB)COD and (iii) anaerobic hydrolysis of slowly biodegradable (SB)COD are evaluated in relation to the IAWQ Activated Sludge Model (ASM) No.2. Recent developments in BEPR research do not yet allow a significant improvement to be made to ASM No. 2 that will increase its predictive power and reliability and therefore it remains essentially as a framework to guide further research.


1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 149-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kin-man Ho ◽  
Paul F. Greenfield ◽  
Linda L. Blackall ◽  
Peter R.F. Bell ◽  
Andre Krol

1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Barker ◽  
P. L. Dold

Results of model simulations indicate that without the assumption of COD loss, predictions of oxygen consumption and volatile suspended solids production are significantly over-estimated for biological excess phosphorus removal (BEPR) activated sludge systems (and to a lesser extent anoxic-aerobic systems). These systems apparently consume less oxygen and produce less volatile solids than aerobic systems for the same amount of COD removal. A general model for biological nutrient removal systems has recently been presented by Barker and Dold. Three mechanisms for COD loss are suggested, based on results of COD balances for different types of activated sludge system. Model simulation results with and without the assumption of COD loss are discussed, as well as the influence of influent COD composition on predictions of volatile suspended solids concentration/production and oxygen consumption.


2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 1645-1652 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Ekama

The sludge age is the most fundamental and important parameter in the design, operation and control of biological nutrient removal (BNR) activated sludge (AS) systems. Generally, the better the effluent and waste sludge quality required from the system, the longer the sludge age, the larger the biological reactor and the more wastewater characteristics need to be known. Controlling the reactor concentration does not control sludge age, only the mass of sludge in the system. When nitrification is a requirement, sludge age control becomes a requirement and the secondary settling tanks can no longer serve the dual purpose of clarifier and waste activated sludge thickeners. The easiest and most practical way to control sludge age is with hydraulic control by wasting a defined proportion of the reactor volume daily. In AS plants with reactor concentration control, nitrification fails first. With hydraulic control of sludge age, nitrification will not fail, rather the plant fails by shedding solids over the secondary settling tank effluent weirs.


1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 195-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. Randall ◽  
V. M. Pattarkine ◽  
S. A. McClintock

Nitrification kinetics as a function of mixed liquor temperature were compared for a conventional fully-aerobic activated sludge system and a system accomplishing biological nutrient removal (BNR) by incorporation of anaerobic and anoxic zones using the UCT configuration. The systems treated the same municipal wastewater and both had flow rates of 151 L/day. The nitrification rates were greater in the nutrient removal system compared to the conventional system as long as the aerobic MCRT was above the minimum for complete nitrification. It was concluded that BNR systems require less aerobic volume than fully aerobic systems to accomplish nitrification because the aerobic biomass concentration is greater in the BNR systems, particularly if the UCT configuration is used. Nonetheless, BNR systems require more total volume to accomplish complete nitrification than fully aerobic systems, and the volume differential increases as mixed liquor temperatures decrease.


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