Nitrification in activated sludge batch reactors is linked to protozoan grazing of the bacterial population

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 791-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Petropoulos ◽  
Kimberley A Gilbride
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Bacterial Population ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Concentration ◽  
Batch Cultures ◽  
Protozoan Grazing ◽  
Swimming Bacteria

Protozoa feed upon free-swimming bacteria and suspended particles inducing flocculation and increasing the turnover rate of nutrients in complex mixed communities. In this study, the effect of protozoan grazing on nitrification was examined in activated sludge in batch cultures maintained over a 14-day period. A reduction in the protozoan grazing pressure was accomplished by using either a dilution series or the protozoan inhibitor cycloheximide. As the dilutions increased, the nitrification rate showed a decline, suggesting that a reduction in protozoan or bacterial concentration may cause a decrease in nitrification potential. In the presence of cycloheximide, where the bacterial concentration was not altered, the rates of production of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all were significantly lower in the absence of active protozoans. These results suggest that a reduction in the number or activity of the protozoans reduces nitrification, possibly by limiting the availability of nutrients for slow-growing ammonia and nitrite oxidizers through excretion products. Furthermore, the ability of protozoans to groom the heterotrophic bacterial population in such systems may also play a role in reducing interspecies competition for nitrification substrates and thereby augment nitrification rates.Key words: nitrification, activated sludge, protozoan grazing, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, cycloheximide.

scholarly journals Impact of Protozoan Grazing on Nitrification and the Ammonia-And-Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacterial Communities in Activated Sludge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Jean Pogue
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Ammonia Oxidation ◽  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Protozoan Grazing ◽  
Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Nitrite Nitrate

The effect of protozoan grazing on nitrification rates under different conditions was examined. The spatial distribution of ammonia -and nitrite- oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB) in activated sludge was also examined using FISH/CSLM. Batch reactors were monitored for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and total nitrogen concentrations and bacterial numbers in the presence and absence of cycloheximide, a protozoan inhibitor. In the absence of protozoan grazing, rates of nitrification were lower than in batches with protozoa. Spatially, both AOB and NOB were found clustered within the floc and neither inhibiting the protozoa or inhibiting ammonia oxidation appeared to lower the amount of AOB and NOB present or their position. These results suggest that a reduction in protozoan grazing pressure allowed the heterotrophic bacteria to proliferate which caused a corresponding decrease in the rate of nitrification. These results suggest that AOB and NOB are less active in the absence of protozoa and indicates the role of protozoa in the cycling of nitrogen.

Impact of protozoan grazing on nitrification and the ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacterial communities in activated sludge

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J. Pogue ◽  
Kimberley A. Gilbride
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Ammonia Oxidation ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria ◽  
Nitrate Accumulation ◽  
Protozoan Grazing ◽  
Nitrite Nitrate

In activated sludge, protozoa feed on free-swimming bacteria and suspended particles, inducing flocculation and increasing the turnover rate of nutrients. In this study, the effect of protozoan grazing on nitrification rates under various conditions in municipal activated sludge batch reactors was examined, as was the spatial distribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) within the activated sludge. The reactors were monitored for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and total nitrogen concentrations, and bacterial numbers in the presence and absence of cycloheximide (a protozoan inhibitor), allylthiourea (an inhibitor of ammonia oxidation), and EDTA (a deflocculating agent). The accumulations of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia were lower in batches without than with protozoa grazing. Inhibition of ammonia oxidation also decreased the amount of nitrite and nitrate accumulation. Inhibiting protozoan grazing along with ammonia oxidation further decreased the amounts of nitrite and nitrate accumulated. Induction of deflocculation led to high nitrate accumulation, indicating high levels of nitrification; this effect was lessened in the absence of protozoan grazing. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy, AOB and NOB were found clustered within the floc, and inhibiting the protozoa, inhibiting ammonia oxidation, or inducing flocculation did not appear to lower the number of AOB and NOB present or affect their position within the floc. These results suggest that the AOB and NOB are present but less active in the absence of protozoa.

scholarly journals Impact of Protozoan Grazing on Nitrification and the Ammonia-And-Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacterial Communities in Activated Sludge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Jean Pogue
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Ammonia Oxidation ◽  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Protozoan Grazing ◽  
Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Nitrite Nitrate

The effect of protozoan grazing on nitrification rates under different conditions was examined. The spatial distribution of ammonia -and nitrite- oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB) in activated sludge was also examined using FISH/CSLM. Batch reactors were monitored for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and total nitrogen concentrations and bacterial numbers in the presence and absence of cycloheximide, a protozoan inhibitor. In the absence of protozoan grazing, rates of nitrification were lower than in batches with protozoa. Spatially, both AOB and NOB were found clustered within the floc and neither inhibiting the protozoa or inhibiting ammonia oxidation appeared to lower the amount of AOB and NOB present or their position. These results suggest that a reduction in protozoan grazing pressure allowed the heterotrophic bacteria to proliferate which caused a corresponding decrease in the rate of nitrification. These results suggest that AOB and NOB are less active in the absence of protozoa and indicates the role of protozoa in the cycling of nitrogen.

scholarly journals Fate of selected pharmaceutically active compounds in the integrated fixed film activated sludge process

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 2680-2691 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Murray ◽  
W. J. Parker ◽  
L. M. Bragg ◽  
M. R. Servos
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Fixed Film ◽  
Solids Retention ◽  
Biomass Activity

The potential for integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) processes to achieve enhanced transformation of pharmaceuticals relative to conventional activated sludge (CAS) processes was assessed. Previous studies have focused on direct comparisons of parallel reactors with and without fixed film carriers and little information is available on the impacts of how varying operating parameters impact the differences in observed pharmaceutical compound (PC) transformation capabilities between CAS reactors and those equipped with both an activated sludge (AS) and fixed film carriers. The testing was carried out using bench scale sequencing batch reactors fed with authentic municipal wastewater and operated at selected combinations of temperature and solids retention time (SRT). PC transformation efficiencies were assessed in a 22 factorial design that employed the IFAS and CAS processes, operated in parallel under identical process conditions. Nitrification rate testing that was conducted to obtain insight into the biomass activity demonstrated that IFAS consistently had improved nitrification kinetics despite lower mixed liquor volatile suspended solids levels thereby demonstrating the contribution of the biofilm to nitrification. Increased transformation of atenolol (ATEN; ranging from 10–60%) and trimethoprim (TRIM; ranging from 30–50%) in the IFAS equipped reactors relative to their respective activated sludge (AS) controls was observed under all experimental conditions. Negligible transformation of carbamazepine was observed in both reactors under all conditions investigated. More than 99% of acetaminophen was transformed in both configurations under all conditions. There was no correspondence between nitrification activity and TRIM removal in the control AS while conditions that stimulated nitrification in the control AS also resulted in enhanced removal of ATEN. The results of this study indicate that the integration of biofilms in AS processes enhances transformation of some PCs.

Process evaluation of HASP with IMET system through SNR and SDNR for the efficient management of Sewage Treatment Plant

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Young H. Yoon ◽  
Jae R. Park ◽  
Sang W. Ahn ◽  
Kwang B. Ko ◽  
Kyung J. Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Type Experiment ◽  
Batch Type ◽  
Nitrification And Denitrification

Hybrid Activated Sludge Process (HASP) with IMET was developed and applied to an activated sludge process for the advanced nutrient treatment in Korea. The characteristics of nitrogen removal from the HASP were investigated through a kinetic study by batch-type experiment. Online DB analysis produced from the IMET was conducted for the nutrient removal performance in the field demonstration plant treating 10,000 m3/day in G city of Korea. In this paper, we aimed to determine the effect of increasing NHM4+-N load on the specific nitrification rate (SNR) and the specific denitrification rate (SDNR) through a batch-type experiment, and to estimate the net reaction time for the phase-transfer rate using online DB analysis in the HASP operation. Experimental results include: (1) both the nitrification and denitrification followed first-order kinetics; (2) the maximum SNR and SDNR were 4.0301 mgN/gVSS·hr and 2.785 mgN/gVSS·hr, respectively; (3) comparison of reaction rates between nitrification and denitrification from the non-linear regression analysis found that nitrification rate was higher than denitrification.

A Batch Activated Sludge Study of Pineapple Wastewater Using a Bioaugmentation Process

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nik Fuaad Nik Abllah ◽  
Aik Heng Lee
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Organic Loading ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Organic Removal ◽  
Sludge Production

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the feasibility of batch activated sludge reactor for treating pineapple wastewater and to examine the effects of bioaugmentation on treatment performance. The experimental set-up consists of eleven batch reactors. Activated sludge obtained from a wastewater treatment plant treating domestic wastewater was used as seed for the reactors. Synthetic pineapple wastewater was used as feed for the reactors. The eleven reactors were arranged to evaluate the total organic removal, nitrification, and sludge production by bioaugmentation process. Three major factors considered were influent organic loading, ammonia-nitrogen, and dosage of bacterial-culture-product addition. Removal of TOG (total organic carbon), sludge production in terms of SS(suspended solids), and ammonia-nitrogen removal variation are used as evaluation parameters. The TOC removal efficiency after the end of a 48 hour reactor run, for influent TOC of 350.14 to 363.30 mg/l, and 145.92 to 169.66 mg/l, was 94.41 to 95.89%, and 93.72 to 94.73% respectively. Higher organic removal was observed in the bioaugmented reactors with higher organic loading. The better organic removal efficiency in the bioaugmented reactors was probably due to activities of bacteria added. The test results also indicated that sludge yield was enhanced by the bacteria additive and high bacteria dosage produced less sludge. Bioaugmentation was observed to be a suitable alternative for enhancing the biological treatment of pineapple wastewater.

Floc size distribution and bacterial activities in membrane separation activated sludge processes for small-scale wastewater treatment/reclamation

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boran Zhang ◽  
Kazuo Yamamoto ◽  
Shinichiro Ohgaki ◽  
Naoyuki Kamiko
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Membrane Separation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Floc Size ◽  
Denitrification Activity ◽  
Concentration Changes ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

Activated sludges taken from full-scale membrane separation processes, building wastewater reuse system (400m3/d), and two nightsoil treatment plants (50m3/d) as well as laboratory scale membrane separation bioreactor (0.062m3/d) were analyzed to characterize membrane separation activated sludge processes (MSAS). They were also compared with conventional activated sludges(CAS) taken from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Specific nitrification activity in MSAS processes averaged at 2.28gNH4-N/kgMLSS.h were higher than that in CAS processes averaged at 0.96gNH4-N/kgMLSS.h. The denitrification activity in both processes were in the range of 0.62-3.2gNO3-N/kgMLSS.h without organic addition and in the range of 4.25-6.4gNO3-N/kgMLSS.h with organic addition. The organic removal activity in nightsoil treatment process averaged at 123gCOD/kgMLSS.h which was significantly higher than others. Floc size distributions were measured by particle sedimentation technique and image analysis technique. Flocs in MSAS processes changed their sizes with MLSS concentration changes and were concentrated at small sizes at low MLSS concentration, mostly less than 60 μm. On the contrary, floc sizes in CAS processes have not much changed with MLSS concentration changes and they were distributed in large range. In addition, the effects of floc size on specific nitrification rate, denitrification rate with and without organic carbon addition were investigated. Specific nitrification rate was decreased as floc size increased. However, little effect of floc size on denitrification activity was observed.

scholarly journals Influent with Particulate Substrate, Clean, Innocuous and Sustainable Solution for Bulking Control and Mitigation in Activated Sludge Process

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 984
Author(s):  
Pedro Cisterna-Osorio ◽  
Claudia Calabran-Caceres ◽  
Giannina Tiznado-Bustamante ◽  
Nataly Bastias-Toro
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
Favorable Effect ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Sequencing Batch Reactors ◽  
Active Sludge ◽  
Chemical Reagents

This research studies the incidence of the type of substrate, soluble or particulate, in the emergence, development, and inhibition of bulking in activated sludge systems. It was evaluated using the sludge volume index (SVI), mixing liquor-suspended solids (MLSS), microscopic analysis of biomass, and effluent suspended solids (ESS). In the first experiment, four sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were fed with soluble substrate at a fixed mass, while the mass of the particulate substrate varied, as those (saccharose mass/flour mass) ratios were 3:1, 3:2, 3:3 and 3:4., with a deficit ranging from 20 to 30% compared to the ratio recommended. The four SBRs have similar MLSS, IVL, and ESS. From day 30, with a deficit from 80 to 90%, the influents have ratios 1/1 and 1/2 until 48 days. The SBRs present IVL between 600 and 730 mL/g and ESS from 370 to 440 mg/L; unlike influents with ratios 1/3 and 1/4, they present IVL between 170 and 185 mL/g, and ESS from 260 to 270 mg/L. The favorable effect of particulate matter is categorical. In the second set of experiments, two SBRs were studied: SBR 1 fed with saccharose, and SBR 2 with flour; there is a lack of nutrients causing bulking in SBRs. Once the nutrient deficiency condition is changed in day 11 to excess, after 22 days, the SVI was 190 mL/g, ESS was 360 mg/L, and MLSS was 2000 mg/L for influents with saccharose; the influent with flour, with an SVI of 80 mL/g, ESS of 100 mg/L, and MLSS of 4000 mg/L, shows faster and more consistent recovery with the particulate substrate. Therefore, the proposal is to add particulate substrate-like flour to active sludge plants facing bulking. It is a clean, innocuous and sustainable alternative to processes that use chemical reagents.

Wastewater fermentation and nutrient removal in sequencing batch reactors

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Germán Cuevas-Rodríguez ◽  
Óscar González-Barceló ◽  
Simón González-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Organic Load ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Sequencing Batch Reactors ◽  
Organic Loading ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Experimental Runs

This research project was conducted to analyze the performance of a SBR reactor when being fed with anaerobically fermented wastewater. Important was to determine the capacity of the system to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. Two SBR reactors, each one with a volume of 980 liters, were used: one used as fermenter and the other as activated sludge SBR. Using 8-hour cycles, the reactors were operated and studied during 269 days. The fermenter produced an effluent with an average value of 223±24 mg/l of volatile fatty acids. The activated sludge SBR was tested under 3 organic loading rates of 0.13, 0.25, and 0.35 kgCODtotal/kgTSS·d. For the three tested organic loading rates, PO4-P concentrations under 1.1 mg/l and COD between 37 and 38 mg/l were consistently achieved. Exceptionally high NH4-N influent values were measured during the time of the experimentation with the organic load of 0.25 kgCODtotal/kgTSS·d, not reaching in this case full nitrification. Denitrification was observed during the fill phase in every cycle. SVI values between 40 and 70 were determined during the experimental runs.

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