Biological treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater from the antibiotics industry

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 855-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Lefebvre ◽  
X. Shi ◽  
C. H. Wu ◽  
H. Y. Ng

Pharmaceutical wastewater generated by an antibiotics (penicillin) company was treated by aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs) and sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). At a low organic loading rate of 0.22 kg-COD m−3d−1, both types of reactors were capable of treating the wastewater such that the treated effluent met the discharge regulation except for the total dissolved solids. However, when the loading rate was increased to 2.92 kg-COD m−3d−1, foaming issues resulted in unstable performance. Overall, the MBRs achieved better solid removal but the SBRs performed better in regards to the degradation of aromatic compounds, as determined by UV absorbance (UVA). Finally, ozonation was applied on two different streams and showed promise on the strong stream – that corresponds to the formulation effluent and contains most of the biorefractory compounds. Ozonation successfully reduced the UVA, lowered the pH and increased the biochemical oxygen demand : chemical oxygen demand (BOD5 : COD) ratio of the strong stream. However, it was less efficient on the effluent having undergone pre-treatment by a biofilter due to a lack of selectivity towards refractory compounds.

2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 2527-2535 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Langevin ◽  
B. Q. Liao

In-mill thermophilic treatment of individual wastewater streams to achieve water system closure has received much attention in pulp and paper mills. Aerobic biological treatment of thermomechanical pulping (TMP) condensate was conducted using thermophilic (55°C) and mesophilic (35°C) sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) for a period of 143 days at a cyclic time of 6, 8 and 12 h. A soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal efficiency of 77 to 91% was achieved, given an organic loading rate of 0.7–1.3 kg/m3 d. The COD removal efficiency of the thermophilic SBR was slightly lower than that of the mesophilic SBR. Majority of the soluble COD was removed by biodegradation with a small portion (9–13%) of soluble COD stripped by aeration. The settleability (sludge volume index) and the flocculating ability (effluent suspended solids) of thermophilic sludge were comparable to or slightly poorer than that of the mesophilic sludge. The level of filaments in thermophilic sludge was usually higher than that in mesophilic sludge. The results of the study indicate that both thermophilic and mesophilic SBRs can be successfully operated for in-mill treatment of TMP condensate. The treated effluent has the potential for subsequent reuse in the mill.


Author(s):  
K De la Cruz-Martorell ◽  
Y Gómez-Salcedo ◽  
Y Santander ◽  
D J Catagua Mera ◽  
JCD Mendoza ◽  
...  

The present paper deals with the mono-digestion of coffee husk during the operation of batch reactors and semi-continuous stirred tank reactor (S-CSTR) using both pre-treated residual at 3% Ca(OH)2 and without pre-treatment. The semi-continuous operation was carried out in 4 stages at different organic loading rate (OLR, [gVS L-1 d-1]) and hydraulic retention time (HRT, [d]) (OLR:HRT) ratios (0.1:90, 0.2:90, 0.2:45 and 0.2:30). As a result of the pre-treatment, up to 223% of the organic matter solubilisation was obtained. However, pre-treatment did not provide better results in biodegradability, observing a negative trend in methane yield when operating in S-CSTR, due to the accumulation of compounds from the fractionation of the lignin as is the case of polyphenols. The operation was further developed using the residual without pre-treatment. The highest methane yield was obtained at 45:0.2 when using the residual without pre-treatment being with 277 mLCH4 gVS -1, for a methane productivity of 1.1 L L-1 d-1. When implementing the 30:0.2 ratio, a biomass washout was observed in the system, so it is recommended to operate at low OLR and high HRT when treating solid coffee wastes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dlabaja ◽  
J. Malaťák

Anaerobic fermentation is a suitable method of energetic and material utilisation of waste coming from restaurants and canteens. Laboratory experiments of wet anaerobic fermentation were performed in a continuous reactor and in batch reactors under mesophilic conditions. Effects of hydraulic retention time, organic loading rate, period of feeding and recirculation of digestate were examined in the continuous reactor. Effects of substrate pre-treatment (crushing, heating, freezing) were examined in the batch reactors. Degree of substrate degradation ranged between 83–85% within hydraulic retention time of 2–30 days. Appropriate organic loading rate was found in the range 2–3 kg of volatile solids per m3/day. Recirculation of digestate (both an inoculum for fresh substrate and replacement of fresh water supply) caused an increase in ammonia concentration and led to immediate inhibition of the process. The results further showed a positive effect of substrate pre-treatment in the initial phase of fermentation. However, degree of degradation did not show a significant increase for the period of 20 days of fermentation.    


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3894
Author(s):  
Joanna Czarnota ◽  
Janusz A. Tomaszek ◽  
Adam Masłoń ◽  
Adam Piech ◽  
Grzegorz Łagód

The effects of two powdered mineral materials (powdered ceramsite and powdered limestone) on aerobic granulation of sludge were evaluated. The experiment was conducted on a laboratory scale bioreactors treating wastewater for 89 days. Three granular sequencing batch reactors (GSBRs) were operated at the lowest optimal organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.55 g COD/(L∙d). In the control reactor (R1), the mean diameter (d) of the biomass ranged from 124.0 to 210.0 µm, and complete granulation was not achieved. However, complete granulation did occur in reactors to which either ceramsite (251.9 µm < d < 783.1 µm) or limestone (246.0 µm < d < 518.9 µm) was added. Both powdered materials served as a ballast for the sludge flocs making up the seed sludge. Ceramsite particles also acted as microcarriers of granule-forming biomass. The granules in the reactors with added powdered materials had nonfibrous and smoother surfaces. The reactor with ceramsite exhibited the highest average efficiencies for COD, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus removal (85.4 ± 5.4%, 56.6 ± 10.2%, and 56.8 ± 9.9%, respectively). By contrast, the average nitrification efficiency was 95.1 ± 12.8%.


2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Watari ◽  
Trung Cuong Mai ◽  
Daisuke Tanikawa ◽  
Yuga Hirakata ◽  
Masashi Hatamoto ◽  
...  

Conventional aerated tank technology is widely applied for post treatment of natural rubber processing wastewater in Southeast Asia; however, a long hydraulic retention time (HRT) is required and the effluent standards are exceeded. In this study, a downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor was installed as post treatment of anaerobic tank effluent in a natural rubber factory in South Vietnam and the process performance was evaluated. The DHS reactor demonstrated removal efficiencies of 64.2 ± 7.5% and 55.3 ± 19.2% for total chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen, respectively, with an organic loading rate of 0.97 ± 0.03 kg-COD m−3 day−1 and a nitrogen loading rate of 0.57 ± 0.21 kg-N m−3 day−1. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of the sludge retained in the DHS also corresponded to the result of reactor performance, and both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria were detected in the sponge carrier. In addition, anammox bacteria was found in the retained sludge. The DHS reactor reduced the HRT of 30 days to 4.8 h compared with the existing algal tank. This result indicates that the DHS reactor could be an appropriate post treatment for the existing anaerobic tank for natural rubber processing wastewater treatment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Fiza Sarwar ◽  
Wajeeha Malik ◽  
Muhammad Salman Ahmed ◽  
Harja Shahid

Abstract: This study was designed using actual effluent from the sugary mills in an Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Reactor to evaluate treatability performance. The reactor was started-up in step-wise loading rates beginning from 0.05kg carbon oxygen demand (COD)/m3-day to 3.50kg-COD/m3-day. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was slowly decreased from 96 hrs to eight hrs. It was observed that the removal efficiency of COD of more than 73% can be easily achieved at an HRT of more than 16 hours corresponding to an average organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.0kg-COD/m3-day, at neutral pH and constant temperature of 29°C. The average VFAs (volatile fatty acids) and biogas production was observed as 560mg/L and 1.6L/g-CODrem-d, respectively. The average methane composition was estimated as 62%. The results of this study suggest that the treatment of sugar mills effluent with the anaerobic technology seems to be more reliable, effective and economical.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hn.v9i0.7075 Hydro Nepal Vol.9 July 2011 57-62


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Vieira ◽  
M. von Sperling

We aimed to evaluate the performance and cost savings of an innovative design of a trickling filter (TF) for small population sizes, developed at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil referred to as an open trickling filter (OTF). The OTF had no side walls and no perforated bottom slab, and was applied for the post-treatment of sanitary sewage from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The OTF had crushed-stone packing (3.5 m high) and was operated with an average surface hydraulic loading rate of 4.1 m3 m−2 d−1 and an average volumetric organic loading rate of 0.10 kg BOD m−3 d−1 (biochemical oxygen demand). The average concentrations obtained at the OTF effluent were 48 mg TSS L−1 (total suspended solids), 132 mg COD L−1 (chemical oxygen demand), 51 mg BOD L−1, 19 mg TKN L−1 (total Kjeldahl nitrogen), 16 mg NH4+-N L−1 and 10 mg NO3−-N L−1, complying with local discharge standards. Analysis of the construction costs indicated savings of 74% compared to conventional TF. Based on the performance, compactness, simplicity and reduced capital costs, it is believed that the proposed OTF is a good alternative for small communities, especially in developing countries.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejene Tsegaye Bedane ◽  
Mohammed Mazharuddin Khan ◽  
Seyoum Leta Asfaw

Abstract Background : Wastewater from agro-industries such as slaughterhouse is typical organic wastewater with high value of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, biological organic nutrients (Nitrogen and phosphate) which are insoluble, slowly biodegradable solids, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and viruses, parasite eggs. Moreover it contains high protein and putrefies fast leading to environmental pollution problem. This indicates that slaughterhouses are among the most environmental polluting agro-industries. Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of metabolic steps involving consortiums of several microbial populations to form a complex metabolic interaction network resulting in the conversation of organic matter into methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and other trace compounds. Separation of the phase permits the optimization of the organic loading rate and HRT based on the requirements of the microbial consortiums of each phase. The purpose of this study was to optimize the working conditions for the hydrolytic - acidogenic stage in two step/phase anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse wastewater. The setup of the laboratory scale reactor was established at Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural Science with a total volume of 40 liter (36 liter working volume and 4 liter gas space). The working parameters for hydrolytic - acidogenic stage were optimized for six hydraulic retention time 1-6 days and equivalent organic loading rate of 5366.43 – 894.41 mg COD/L day to evaluate the effect of the working parameters on the performance of hydrolytic – acidogenic reactor. Result : The finding revealed that hydraulic retention time of 3 day with organic loading rate of 1,788.81 mg COD/L day was a as an optimal working conditions for the parameters under study for the hydrolytic - acidogenic stage. The degree of hydrolysis and acidification were mainly influenced by lower hydraulic retention time (higher organic loading rate) and highest values recorded were 63.92 % at hydraulic retention time of 3 day and 53.26% at hydraulic retention time of 2 day respectively. Conclusion : The finding of the present study indicated that at steady state the concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand and total volatile fatty acids increase as hydraulic retention time decreased or organic loading rate increased from 1 day hydraulic retention time to 3 day hydraulic retention time and decreases as hydraulic retention time increase from 4 to 6 day. The lowest concentration of NH 4 + -N and highest degree of acidification was also achieved at hydraulic retention time of 3 day. Therefore, it can be concluded that hydraulic retention time of 3 day/organic loading rate of 1,788.81 mg COD/L .day was selected as an optimal working condition for the high performance and stability during the two stage anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse wastewater for the hydrolytic-acidogenic stage under mesophilic temperature range selected (37.5℃). Keywords : Slaughterhouse Wastewater, Hydrolytic – Acidogenic, Two Phase Anaerobic Digestion, Optimal Condition, Agro-processing wastewater


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