Sludge production based on organic matter and nitrogen removal performances

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Serón ◽  
S. Puig ◽  
S.C.F. Meijer ◽  
M.D. Balaguer ◽  
J. Colprim

Excess biomass produced during the biological treatment of wastewater requires costly disposal. As environmental and legislative constraints increase, there is considerable impetus for reducing the sludge production. Nowadays, several strategies for minimizing it production are applied but high costs still limit their application in full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). On the other hand, biological nutrient removal (BNR) process may have an impact on the sludge production. This paper deals with the effect on the organic matter and nitrogen performances on the sludge production treating urban wastewater. The results demonstrated that the sewage sludge production was reduced between 50 to 60% (0.38 to 0.16 kg VSS·kg−1 COD) while improving the nitrogen removal efficiency from 33% to 79%. Therefore, an efficient way to minimize the sludge production, it is by operating the WWTP in optimal conditions for nutrient removal.

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1481-1489 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Barat ◽  
J. Serralta ◽  
M. V. Ruano ◽  
E. Jiménez ◽  
J. Ribes ◽  
...  

This paper presents the plant-wide model Biological Nutrient Removal Model No. 2 (BNRM2). Since nitrite was not considered in the BNRM1, and this previous model also failed to accurately simulate the anaerobic digestion because precipitation processes were not considered, an extension of BNRM1 has been developed. This extension comprises all the components and processes required to simulate nitrogen removal via nitrite and the formation of the solids most likely to precipitate in anaerobic digesters. The solids considered in BNRM2 are: struvite, amorphous calcium phosphate, hidroxyapatite, newberite, vivianite, strengite, variscite, and calcium carbonate. With regard to nitrogen removal via nitrite, apart from nitrite oxidizing bacteria two groups of ammonium oxidizing organisms (AOO) have been considered since different sets of kinetic parameters have been reported for the AOO present in activated sludge systems and SHARON (Single reactor system for High activity Ammonium Removal Over Nitrite) reactors. Due to the new processes considered, BNRM2 allows an accurate prediction of wastewater treatment plant performance in wider environmental and operating conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1056-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Coma ◽  
S. Rovira ◽  
J. Canals ◽  
J. Colprim

Integrated processes to reduce in situ the sludge production in wastewater treatment plants are gaining attention in order to facilitate excess sludge management. In contrast to post-treatments, such as anaerobic digestion which is placed between the activated sludge system and dewatering processes, integrated technologies are placed in the sludge return line. This study evaluates the application of an anoxic side-stream reactor (SSR) which creates a physiological shock and uncouples the biomass metabolism and diverts the activity from assimilation for biosynthesis to non-growth activities. The effect of this system in biological nutrient removal for both nitrogen and phosphorus was evaluated for the anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic reactors. The RedOx potential within the SSR was maintained at −150 mV while the sludge loading rate was modified by increasing the percentage of recycled activated sludge feed to the SSR (0 and 40% at laboratory scale and 0, 10, 50 and 100% at pilot scale). The use of the SSR presented a slight reduction of phosphorus removal but maintained the effluent quality to the required discharge values. Nitrogen removal efficiency increased from 75 to 86% while reducing the sludge production rate by 18.3%.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rabinowitz ◽  
T. D. Vassos ◽  
R. N. Dawson ◽  
W. K. Oldham

A brief review of recent developments in biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal technology is presented. Guidelines are outlined of how current understanding of these two removal mechanisms can be applied in the upgrading of existing wastewater treatment plants for biological nutrient removal. A case history dealing with the upgrading of the conventional activated sludge process located at Penticton, British Columbia, to a biological nutrient removal facility with a design flow of 18,200 m3/day (4.0 IMGD) is presented as a design example. Process components requiring major modification were the headworks, bioreactors and sludge handling facilities.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Niels Skov Olesen

In some areas of Denmark nutrient removal is required even for very small wastewater plants, that is down to 500 pe (pe = person equivalents). The goal for the removal is 80% removal of nitrogen and 90% removal of phosphorus, or in terms of concentrations: 8 mg nitrogen/l and 1.2 mg phosphorus/l. The inlet concentrations are typically 40 mg N/l and 10 mg P/l. The paper presents the results from two such plants with a capacity of 800 pe. Phosphorus removal is made by simultaneous precipitation with ferrous sulphate. Nitrogen removal is carried out using the recirculation method. Both plants were originally rotor aerated oxidation ditches. They have been extended with a denitrification reactor and a recirculation pumping station. At present both plants have been in activity for about 3 years and with satisfactory results. Average concentrations of nitrogen (summer) and phosphorus is 7 mg/l and 0.9 mg/l respectively. Nitrogen removal seems to be a practical solution on these small plants. It is,though, sensitive to temperature and highly oxidized rain water. Phosphorus removal seems to be an easily run and relatively non-sensitive technique at least when using simultaneous precipitation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibeke R. Borregaard

In the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants to include biological nutrient removal the space available is often a limiting facor. It may be difficult to use conventional suspended growth processes (i.e. activated sludge) owing to the relatively large surface area required for these processes. Recent years have therefore seen a revived interest in treatment technologies using various types of attached growth processes. The “new” attached growth processes, like the Biostyr process, utilise various kinds of manufactured media, e.g. polystyrene granules, which offer a high specific surface area, and are therefore very compact. The Biostyr plants allow a combination of nitrification-denitrification and filtration in one and the same unit. The results obtained are 8 mg total N/l and an SS content normally below 10 mg/l. The plants in Denmark which have been extended with a Biostyr unit have various levels of PLC control and on-line instrumentation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Conidi ◽  
Mehran Andalib ◽  
Christopher Andres ◽  
Christopher Bye ◽  
Art Umble ◽  
...  

Abstract Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are surface-active organic compounds common in industrial cleaner formulations widely used in various sanitation applications. While acting as effective pathogenic biocides, QACs lack selective toxicity and often have poor target specificity. As a result, adverse effects on biological processes and thus the performance of biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems may be encountered when QACs enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Because of these impacts, there is motivation to screen wastewater influents for QACs and for process engineers to consider the inhibition effects of QACs on process evaluation and design of BNR plants. This paper introduces a mathematical model to describe the fate of QACs in a WWTP via biodegradation and bio-adsorption, and the inhibitory effect of QACs on nitrifiers and ordinary heterotrophic organisms. The model was incorporated as an add-on model in BioWin 5.3 and simulations of experimental systems were used for comparison of model results to measured data reported in the literature. The model was found to accurately predict the bulk phase concentration of QAC and the inhibition of nitrification with QAC concentrations ≥2 mg/L. This work provides a preliminary framework for simulation of BNR plants receiving inhibitory substances in the influent.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Makinia ◽  
M. Swinarski ◽  
E. Dobiegala

Mathematical modelling and computer simulation have became a useful tool in evaluating the operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in terms of nutrient removal capability. In this study, steady-state simulation results for two large biological nutrient removal WWTPs are presented. The plants are located in two neighbouring cities Gdansk and Gdynia in northern Poland. Simulations were performed using a pre-compiled model and layouts (MUCT and Johannesburg processes) implemented in the GPS-X simulation package. The monthly average values of conventional parameters, such as COD, Total Suspended Solids, total N, N-NH4+, P-PO4− were used as input data. The measured effluent concentrations of COD, N-NH4+, N-NO3− and P-PO4− as well as reactor MLSS were compared with model predictions. During calibration, performed from the process engineering perspective, default values of only five model parameters were changed. The opportunities for further applications of such models in municipal WWTPs are discussed.


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