Proof of concept for a new energy-positive wastewater treatment scheme

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 1709-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Remy ◽  
M. Boulestreau ◽  
B. Lesjean
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Pilot Trials ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

For improved exploitation of the energy content present in the organic matter of raw sewage, an innovative concept for treatment of municipal wastewater is tested in pilot trials and assessed in energy balance and operational costs. The concept is based on a maximum extraction of organic matter into the sludge via coagulation, flocculation and microsieving (100 μm mesh size) to increase the energy recovery in anaerobic sludge digestion and decrease aeration demand for carbon mineralisation. Pilot trials with real wastewater yield an extraction of 70–80% of total chemical oxygen demand into the sludge while dosing 15–20 mg/L Al and 5–7 mg/L polymer with stable operation of the microsieve and effluent limits below 2–3 mg/L total phosphorus. Anaerobic digestion of the microsieve sludge results in high biogas yields of 600 NL/kg organic dry matter input (oDMin) compared to 430 NL/kg oDMin for mixed sludge from a conventional activated sludge process. The overall energy balance for a 100,000 population equivalent (PE) treatment plant (including biofilter for post-treatment with full nitrification and denitrification with external carbon source) shows that the new concept is an energy-positive treatment process with comparable effluent quality than conventional processes, even when including energy demand for chemicals production. Estimated operating costs for electricity and chemicals are in the same range for conventional activated sludge processes and the new concept.

Treatment of winery wastewater in a conventional municipal activated sludge process: five years of experience

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bolzonella ◽  
M. Zanette ◽  
P. Battistoni ◽  
F. Cecchi
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Winery Wastewater ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes ◽  
Sludge Production

A full-scale wastewater treatment plant where municipal and winery wastewaters were co-treated was studied for five years. The experimental results showed that suspended solids, COD, nitrogen and phosphorous were effectively removed both during the treatment of municipal wastewater and the co-treatment of municipal and winery wastewater. The sludge production increase from 4 tons to 5.5 tons per day during the harvesting and wine making period. In any case the specific sludge production was 0.2 kgMLVSS per kgCODremoved despite the organic loading increasing. About 70% of the COD was removed through respiration. Also the energy demand increased from 6,000 to 7,000 kWh per day. The estimated costs for the treatment of the winery wastewater was 0.2–0.3 Euros per m3 of treated wastewater. With reference to the process efficiency, the nitrogen removal was just 20%. The co-treatment of municipal and winery wastewater in conventional activated sludge processes can be a feasible solution for the treatment of these streams at relatively low costs.

Comparison of two treatments for the removal of selected organic micropollutants and bulk organic matter: conventional activated sludge followed by ultrafiltration versus membrane bioreactor

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 733-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Sahar ◽  
M. Ernst ◽  
M. Godehardt ◽  
A. Hein ◽  
J. Herr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Macrolide Antibiotics ◽  
Organic Micropollutants ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge

The potential of membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems to remove organic micropollutants was investigated at different scales, operational conditions, and locations. The effluent quality of the MBR system was compared with that of a plant combining conventional activated sludge (CAS) followed by ultrafiltration (UF). The MBR and CAS-UF systems were operated and tested in parallel. An MBR pilot plant in Israel was operated for over a year at a mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) range of 2.8–10.6 g/L. The MBR achieved removal rates comparable to those of a CAS-UF plant at the Tel-Aviv wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for macrolide antibiotics such as roxythromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin and slightly higher removal rates than the CAS-UF for sulfonamides. A laboratory scale MBR unit in Berlin – at an MLSS of 6–9 g/L – showed better removal rates for macrolide antibiotics, trimethoprim, and 5-tolyltriazole compared to the CAS process of the Ruhleben sewage treatment plant (STP) in Berlin when both were fed with identical quality raw wastewater. The Berlin CAS exhibited significantly better benzotriazole removal and slightly better sulfamethoxazole and 4-tolyltriazole removal than its MBR counterpart. Pilot MBR tests (MLSS of 12 g/L) in Aachen, Germany, showed that operating flux significantly affected the resulting membrane fouling rate, but the removal rates of dissolved organic matter and of bisphenol A were not affected.

scholarly journals LCA of a Membrane Bioreactor Compared to Activated Sludge System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Membranes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Dimitra C. Banti ◽  
Michail Tsangas ◽  
Petros Samaras ◽  
Antonis Zorpas
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems are connected to several advantages compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) units. This work aims to the examination of the life cycle environmental impact of an MBR against a CAS unit when treating municipal wastewater with similar influent loading (BOD = 400 mg/L) and giving similar high-quality effluent (BOD < 5 mg/L). The MBR unit contained a denitrification, an aeration and a membrane tank, whereas the CAS unit included an equalization, a denitrification, a nitrification, a sedimentation, a mixing, a flocculation tank and a drum filter. Several impact categories factors were calculated by implementing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential and photochemical ozone creation potential of the plants throughout their life cycle. Real data from two wastewater treatment plants were used. The research focused on two parameters which constitute the main differences between the two treatment plants: The excess sludge removal life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.50 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 2.67 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without sludge removal—and the wastewater treatment plant life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.002 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 0.14 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without land area contribution. Finally, in all the examined cases the environmental superiority of the MBR process was found.

Removal Efficiency of Environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Pollutants-Phthalate Esters in Northern WWTP

2013 ◽  
Vol 807-809 ◽  
pp. 694-698
Author(s):  
Rong Xin Huang ◽  
Zhen Xing Wang ◽  
Gang Liu ◽  
Qi Jin Luo
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Phthalate Esters ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Wastewater Reclamation ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge

In order to guarantee the reliability and security of reclaiming water, research on the removal efficiency of the environmental endocrine chemicals (EDCs) --the Phthalate Esters (PAEs) in conventional secondary activated sludge and wastewater reclamation and reuse process was undergoing at Harbin wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The wastewater samples were colleted from every unit effluent of WWTP. The results showed that contamination of EDCs were presented in municipal wastewater at Harbin and the concentrations of the four PAEs were 21.01μg/L for Di-n-butyl Phthalate (DBP); 9.63μg/L for Di-n-octyl Phthalate (DnOP); 4.56μg/L for Diethyl Phthalate (DEP); 1.96μg/L for Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP) respectively in the influent. The conventional activated sludge has good removal efficiencies performance on DMP, DEP and DBP. With the increasing of molecular weight and branch chains of PAEs contaminations, the removal rate of the four PAEs in the conventional activated sludge process decreased from 99.82%(DMP)，90.60%(DEP)，90.10%(DBP) to the only 45.13% removal rate for DnOP, which was mostly removed from primary treatment but no from secondary activated sludge process; Coagulation-air flotation plus filtration process was not a feasible way to remove PAEs from reclaiming treatment units.

Removal of endocrine disrupter compounds from municipal wastewater by an innovative biological technology

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Balest ◽  
G. Mascolo ◽  
C. Di Iaconi ◽  
A. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Endocrine Disrupter ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge Process

The removal of selected endocrine disrupter compounds (EDCs), namely estrone(E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4t-OP) from municipal wastewater was investigated using a sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor (SBBGR), a new system for biological treatment based on aerobic granular biomass. This new biological treatment is characterized by high biomass concentration (up to 40 g/L), high sludge retention times (up to 6 months) and low sludge production (i.e., an order of magnitude lower than commonly reported for conventional biological technologies). The investigation was carried out comparing a demonstration SBBGR system with a conventional full-scale activated sludge process. Results showed that the SBBGR performed better than a conventional activated sludge process in removing E1, E2, BPA and 4t-OP. In fact, the average removal percentages of the above mentioned EDCs, obtained during a four month operating period, were 62.2, 68, 91.8, 77.9% and 56.4, 36.3, 71.3, 64.6% for the demonstrative SBBGR system and the conventional activated sludge process of the municipal sewage treatment plant, respectively

scholarly journals Coke oven wastewater treatment by two activated sludge systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Coke Oven ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Activated Sludge Systems

In this study two bench scale activated sludge systems were used, a CSTR and an SBR for the treatment of coke – oven wastewater. Both reactors were inoculated with activated sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. At the first stages of operation, reactors were feed by a mixture of municipal wastewater and synthetic wastewater. Full acclimatization of the microorganisms to synthetic wastewater was achieved in 60 days. The operation of the reactors was divided into three distinct periods. The first period was characterized by the treatment of high organic but non-toxic synthetic wastewater. During this period COD and BOD5 removal efficiencies reached 95 and 98% respectively, in both reactors. Nutrient removal was better in the SBR reactor rather than in the CSTR. In the second period phenol was added in concentrations up to 300 mg l-1. Degradation of phenol started about the 20th day after its introduction to the reactors. In this period no effects of phenol to nutrient removal were observed, whereas the removal efficiency of organic matter in both reactors was slightly decreased. During the third period phenol concentrations of the influent were gradually increased to 1000 mg l-1, while cyanide and thiocyanite were added to the influent composition to concentrations reaching concentrations of 20 and 250 mg l-1 respectively. The composition of the influent of this period was a full assimilation of coke oven wastewater. Introduction of increased phenol concentrations along with cyanide compounds initiated irreversible effects on the activated sludge microfauna of the CSTR causing inherent problems to the treatment process, while SBR showed greater capacity to withstand and degrade toxic compounds. The beginning of this period was characterized by decreased settleability of the suspended solids as well as decrease of organic matter and nutrient removal efficiencies. Monitoring of the effluent characteristics during this period reported over 90% for organic load, 85% of nutrient removal and over 90% of phenol and cyanide removal in SBR, while the removal efficiencies for the CSTR were 75, 65 and 80% respectively.

Phosphorus Releasing from Surplus Activated Sludge by Ultrasonic Pretreatment

2014 ◽  
Vol 878 ◽  
pp. 702-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Liu ◽  
Ping Zeng ◽  
Yong Hui Song ◽  
Jian Guang Cheng ◽  
Chao Wei Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Phosphorus Release ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Before And After

Three kinds of surplus activated sludge were pretreated by alkali and combination of alkali and ultrasonic. The changes of PO43-P, TP, SCOD, TOC, TS, VS before and after pretreatment were investigated. The results showed that phosphorus and organic matter could be released into supernatant both by alkali and ultrasonic. The surplus activated sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant was easier to be broken than that from pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant. The activated sludge from Qinghe wastewater treatment plant could be selected for further phosphorus recovery since the largest quantity of phosphorus release and the lowest organic matter release ratio among the three kinds of surplus activated sludge.

Full-scale application of the BABE® technology

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Salem ◽  
D.H.J.G. Berends ◽  
H.F. van der Roest ◽  
R.J. van der Kuij ◽  
M.C.M. van Loosdrecht
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Water Line ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
N Removal ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

Bio-augmentation can be used to obtain nitrification in activated sludge processes that operate at ub-optimal solid retention times. A side-stream process, the so-called BABE® process that incorporates Nremoval and augmentation of nitrifiers has been developed. The principle is to implement a nitrification reactor in the sludge return line, the so-called BABE reactor. This reactor can be fed with an internal N-rich flow (e.g. effluent from the sludge treatment). Hence the nitrification capacity of an activated sludge process can be augmented by the addition of nitrifiers cultivated in the BABE reactor. A full-scale test of the BABE technology has been at the treatment plant Garmerwolde in Groningen, the Netherlands. The set-up allowed comparing between three different lines: with the BABE reactor, without rejectwater and with untreated rejectwater. Based on this, the two important tasks (N-removal and inoculation) performed by the BABE reactor could be quantified. The results of the practical work in Garmerwolde showed a higher nitrification rate in the water line where the BABE reactor was implemented and also lower effluent ammonia. The experiments on a practical scale have demonstrated univocally the effective and stable operation of the BABE technology. In addition, sludge samples in different streams as well as from the BABE reactor were analysed with FISH technique. The FISH results illustrated the augmentation effect of the BABE reactor on the stream with the BABE reactor. A mathematical model, based on ASM1 model and implemented in AQUASIM was developed and used for simulating the treatment plant of Garmerwolde. The simulation results indicated that better effect of the BABE technology is expected at lower ambient temperatures and smaller volume of the BABE reactor. The BABE reactor could also allow for providing more space for de-nitrification in the main water line when nitrification is efficient enough.

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