Comparison of Aerobic and Anoxic-Aerobic Digestion of Waste Activated Sludge

1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 1475-1478 ◽  
Author(s):  
A P. C. Warner ◽  
G. A. Ekama ◽  
G v. R. Marais

The laboratory scale experimental investigation comprised a 6 day sludge age activated sludge process, the waste sludge of which was fed to a number of digesters operated as follows: single reactor flow through digesters at 4 or 6 days sludge age, under aerobic and anoxic-aerobic conditions (with 1,5 and 4 h cycle times) and 3-in-series flow through aerobic digesters each at 4 days sludge age; all digesters were fed draw-and-fill wise once per day. The general kinetic model for the aerobic activated sludge process set out by Dold et al., (1980) and extended to the anoxic-aerobic process by van Haandel et al., (1981) simulated accurately all the experimental data (Figs 1 to 4) without the need for adjusting the kinetic constants. Both theoretical simulations and experimental data indicate that (i) the rate of volatile solids destruction is not affected by the incorporation of anoxic cycles and (ii) the specific denitrification rate is independent of sludge age and is K4T = 0,046(l,029)(T-20) mgNO3-N/(mg active VSS. d) i.e. about 2/3 of that in the secondary anoxic of the single sludge activated sludge stystem. An important consequence of (i) and (ii) above is that denitrification can be integrated easily in the steady state digester model of Marais and Ekama (1976) and used for design (Warner et al., 1983).

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Nowak ◽  
A. Franz ◽  
K. Svardal ◽  
V. Müller

By means of theoretical considerations and of statistical evaluations, specific organic and nitrogen loads in separately stabilized sludge have been found to be in the range of 16 to 20g VSS/PE/d and of 1.1 to 1.5 g N/PE/d respectively. About 0.6g P/PE/d are removed from the wastewater in activated sludge plants without chemical or enhanced biological P removal. By using the single-stage activated sludge process without primary sedimentation and without separate sludge stabilization, almost complete nitrogen removal can be achieved, but specific organic and nitrogen loads in the waste sludge are up to two times higher than in separately stabilized sludge.


2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 644-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Olsson ◽  
S. Schwede ◽  
E. Nehrenheim ◽  
E. Thorin

Abstract A mix of microalgae and bacteria was cultivated on pre-sedimented municipal wastewater in a continuous operated microalgae-activated sludge process. The excess material from the process was co-digested with primary sludge in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions in semi-continuous mode (5 L digesters). Two reference digesters (5 L digesters) fed with waste-activated sludge (WAS) and primary sludge were operated in parallel. The methane yield was slightly reduced (≈10%) when the microalgal-bacterial substrate was used in place of the WAS in thermophilic conditions, but remained approximately similar in mesophilic conditions. The uptake of heavy metals was higher with the microalgal-bacterial substrate in comparison to the WAS, which resulted in higher levels of heavy metals in the digestates. The addition of microalgal-bacterial substrate enhanced the dewaterability in thermophilic conditions. Finally, excess heat can be recovered in both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions.


2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Adham ◽  
P. Gagliardo ◽  
L. Boulos ◽  
J. Oppenheimer ◽  
R. Trussell

The feasibility of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process for water reclamation was studied. Process evaluation was based on the following: literature review of MBRs, worldwide survey of MBRs, and preliminary costs estimates. The literature review and the survey have shown that the MBR process offers several benefits over the conventional activated sludge process, including: smaller space and reactor requirements, better effluent water quality, disinfection, increased volumetric loading, and less sludge production. The MBR process can exist in two different configurations, one with the low-pressure membrane modules replacing the clarifier downstream the bioreactor (in series), and the second with the membranes submerged within the bioreactor. Four major companies are currently marketing MBRs while many other companies are also in the process of developing new MBRs. The MBR process operates in a considerably different range of parameters than the conventional activated sludge process. The preliminary cost evaluation has shown that the MBR process is cost competitive with other conventional wastewater treatment processes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Han ◽  
Shihwu Sung ◽  
Richard R. Dague

The temperature-phased anaerobic bioreactor (TPAB) has been under study by Dague and co-workers at Iowa State University. The temperature-phased approach involves a two-stage reactor system with the first stage operated at a thermophilic temperature (commonly 55°C) and the second stage operated at a mesophilic temperature (commonly 35°C). The purpose of laboratory study was to compare the performance of the temperature-phased system with the conventional single-stage mesophilic system for treating mixtures of primary and waste activated sludge. Of particular interest in the research was a comparison of the two systems from the standpoint of coliform reduction, volatile solids (VS) destruction, and biogas production. The temperature-phased system achieved complete destruction of total and fecal coliforms over a range of SRTs from 11 to 28 days. The concentration of fecal coliforms in the effluent from the temperature-phased system never exceeded 1000 MPN/g total solids (TS), which can meet the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40 (40 CFR), Part 503 coliform requirements for Class A sludge. At the optimal SRTs ranging from 11 to 17 days, the capacity of VS removal of temperature-phased system was more than double that of the conventional single-stage system. The foaming problem associated with the digestion of waste activated sludge was eliminated.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Dalentoft ◽  
Peter Thulin

One pilot plant study and two full scale studies have been carried out seeking for the optimal use of the Kaldnes suspended carrier process in treatment of wastewaters from the forest industry. The wastewater used in all three cases came from secondary fiber mills. The studies show that the Kaldnes process as a highly loaded stage (typically 15-25 kg COD/m3·d) in series with an activated sludge stage forms an efficient, stable and competitive combination process both regarding investment and operating costs. This is especially true when treating wastewaters with a composition that makes them unsuited for treatment in an activated sludge process. The flexibility and compactness of the Kaldnes suspended carrier process also makes it an ideal choice for upgrading of existing treatment plants.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Jankowski ◽  
E. N. Schmierer ◽  
F. C. Prenger ◽  
S. P. Ashworth

A simple model is developed here to predict the pressure drop and discharge coefficient for incompressible flow through orifices with length-to-diameter ratio greater than zero (orifice tubes) over wide ranges of Reynolds number. The pressure drop for flow through orifice tubes is represented as two pressure drops in series; namely, a pressure drop for flow through a sharp-edged orifice in series with a pressure drop for developing flow in a straight length of tube. Both of these pressure drop terms are represented in the model using generally accepted correlations and experimental data for developing flows and sharp-edged orifice flow. We show agreement between this simple model and our numerical analysis of laminar orifice flow with length-to-diameter ratio up to 15 and for Reynolds number up to 150. Agreement is also shown between the series pressure drop representation and experimental data over wider ranges of Reynolds number. Not only is the present work useful as a design correlation for equipment relying on flow through orifice tubes but it helps to explain some of the difficulties that previous authors have encountered when comparing experimental observation and available theories.


2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 143-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ko ◽  
H. Woo ◽  
J.B. Copp ◽  
S. Kim ◽  
C. Kim

Four different strategies including influent storage and reintroduction, step-feeding, rapid sludge recycle and waste sludge storage were evaluated using the denitrification layout of the IWA simulation benchmark. The control objective was to minimise deterioration in effluent quality caused by a certain toxic input event. In these strategies the maximum specific respiration rate (Rmax) was selected as a measured and controlled variable. To simplify the analysis, the toxicant was assumed to be a soluble and nonbiodegradable substance. Two toxic influent files were developed with square-wave input lasting 3 hours. To detect the influent toxicity, a pseudo-online flow-through respirometer was applied. A number of simulations were performed and the results suggested that the influent storage and reintroduction strategy provided the most optimistic results and other strategies could not mitigate the toxic effect. The influent storage and reintroduction strategy strongly depended on reintroduction flow rate from the storage tank. The simulation according to reintroduction flow could estimate the time required for completely treating toxic wastewater stored in the storage tank. Also the IWA simulation benchmark was enhanced to evaluate toxicity effect on the activated sludge process.


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