Integrated side-stream reactor for biological nutrient removal and minimization of sludge production

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1056-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Coma ◽  
S. Rovira ◽  
J. Canals ◽  
J. Colprim
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Side Stream ◽  
Sludge Production

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%.

Considerations in the Process Design of Nutrient Removal Activated Sludge Processes

1983 ◽  
Vol 15 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 283-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
G A Ekama ◽  
I P Siebritz ◽  
G V R Marais
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Biological Nitrogen ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes ◽  
P Removal

The average influent wastewater characteristics - (i) the COD concentration, (ii) the TKN/COD concentration ratio, (iii) the rapidly biodegradable COD concentration, (iv) the maximum specific growth rate of the nitrifiers at 20°C attainable in the wastewater, (v) the maximum and minimum temperatures, and (vi) the P/COD concentration ratio - are shown to govern the design of, and effluent quality from single sludge activated sludge processes for both biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The TKN/COD ratio governs the selection of the process type: For the Phoredox process, complete denitrification is essential to obtain excess P removal, and this is shown to be feasible only for TKN/COD ratios less than 0,07 to 0,08 mgN/mgCOD; as the TKN/COD ratio increases above 0,08, complete denitrification becomes increasingly unlikely, and the UCT or Modified UCT processes are appropriate because in these processes complete denitrification is not essential to achieve excess P removal - in these processes N and P removal can be traded off against each other depending on the critical nutrient to be removed. Primary sedimentation significantly reduces the biological nutrient removal potential of activated sludge process because it increases the TKN/COD and P/COD ratios and reduces the COD load; however it significantly reduces the process volume and total oxygen demand.

Upgrading Wastewater Treatment Plants for Biological Nutrient Removal

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rabinowitz ◽  
T. D. Vassos ◽  
R. N. Dawson ◽  
W. K. Oldham
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Removal Technology ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

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.

Biological nutrient removal model No.1 (BNRM1)

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 69-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Seco ◽  
J. Ribes ◽  
J. Serralta ◽  
J. Ferrer
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Hindered Settling ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Bacterial Groups ◽  
Removal Model

This paper presents the results of the work carried out by the CALAGUA Group on Mathematical Modelling of Biological Treatment Processes: the Biological Nutrient Removal Model No.1. This model is based on a new concept for dynamic simulation of wastewater treatment plants: a unique model can be used to design, simulate and optimize the whole plant, as it includes most of the biological and physico-chemical processes taking place in all treatment operations. The physical processes included are: settling and clarification processes (flocculated settling, hindered settling and thickening), volatile fatty acids elutriation and gasÐliquid transfer. The chemical interactions included comprise acidÐbase processes, where equilibrium conditions are assumed. The biological processes included are: organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal; acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis. Environmental conditions in each operation unit (aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic) will determine which bacterial groups can grow. Thus, only the model parameters related to bacterial groups able to grow in any of the operation units of a specific WWTP will require calibration. One of the most important advantages of this model is that no additional analysis with respect to ASM2d is required for wastewater characterization. Some applications of this model have also been briefly explained in this paper.

Retrofitting conventional primary clarifiers to activated primary clarifiers to enhance nutrient removal and energy conservation in WWTPs in Beijing, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1446-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-wei Wang ◽  
Tian-zhu Zhang ◽  
Ji-ning Chen ◽  
Zhi-rong Hu
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Source ◽  
Energy Conservation ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Test System ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Aeration Tank ◽  
Secondary Effluent ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Primary Sludge

Biological nutrient removal requires sufficient carbon source. Meanwhile, the removal of organic matter in wastewater requires energy consumption in the aeration tank. Carbon source for nutrient removal in most wastewater treatment plants with conventional primary clarifier (CPC) is generally insufficient in China. In order to increase carbon source and to save energy, a part of the CPC may be retrofitted as an activated primary clarifier (APC). In this paper, a pilot scale experiment was conducted to examine the performance of primary sludge fermentation and its effect on nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Results show that the primary sludge fermentation in APC has produced a similar VFA/TP ratio but a higher BOD5/TN ratio compared with those in the CPC effluent, and the TN concentrations in the secondary effluent are at 8.0, 10.8, and 17.4 mg/L, while TP is at 0.45, 1.10, and 2.28 mg/L when the pilot test system was fed with (1) the APC effluent, (2) 50% from the APC effluent and 50% from the CPC effluent, and (3) the CPC effluent, respectively. Results also indicate that the BOD5/TN ratio is a more sensitive factor than the VFA/TP ratio for nutrient removal and energy conservation for the APC fermentation.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the accuracy of two simple methods for microscopic activated sludge analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 2104-2112
Author(s):  
Mateusz Sobczyk ◽  
Agnieszka Pajdak-Stós ◽  
Edyta Fiałkowska ◽  
Wioleta Kocerba-Soroka ◽  
Joanna Starzycka-Giża ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Volume Index ◽  
Sign Test ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Biological microscopic analysis is a popular method employed in wastewater treatment plants worldwide for evaluating activated sludge condition. However, many operators still have reservations regarding its reliability. In this study, we evaluated and compared two methods of microscopic sludge investigation: the sludge index (SI) and the Eikelboom–van Buijsen method (EB). We investigated 79 activated sludge samples from nine treatment plants located in southern Poland over a 1-year period. For each sample, sludge volume index values were calculated and compared with the results of evaluation made on the basis of microscopic analysis. Additionally, the effluent quality was analysed in 45 of 79 cases, including investigation of suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen and total phosphorous. The sign test and Wilcoxon matched pairs test showed that a significant difference existed between the two investigated methods. General conclusions from both methods do not provide reliable information concerning nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The EB method had a tendency to be more conservative in its general conclusions than the SI method. Both are highly reliable for estimating activated sludge quality and solid separation properties.

Enhanced reduction of excess sludge and nutrient removal in a pilot-scale A2O-MBR-TAD system

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 1547-1556 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Ventura ◽  
S. Seo ◽  
I. Chung ◽  
I. Yeom ◽  
H. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Excess Sludge ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Cryptic Growth ◽  
A2o Process ◽  
Sludge Production

In this study, a pilot scale anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2O) process with submerged membrane (MBR) in the oxic tank was coupled with thermophilic aerobic digestion (TAD) reactor and was operated for longer than 600 days to treat real domestic wastewater. Regardless of the varying conditions of the system, the A2O-MBR-TAD process removed MLSS, TCOD, BOD, TN, TP, and E. coli about 99%, 96%, 96%, 70%, 83%, and 99%, respectively. The additional TP removal of the system was due to the precipitating agent directly added in the oxic reactor, without which TP removal was about 56%. In the TAD reactor, receiving MLSS from the oxic tank (MBR), about 25% of TSS and VSS were solubilized during 2 days of retention. The effluent of the TAD reactor was recycled into the anoxic tank of A2O-MBR to provide organic carbon for denitrification and cryptic growth. By controlling the flowrate of wasting stream from the MBR, sludge production decreased to almost zero. From these results, it was concluded that the A2O-MBR-TAD process could be a reliable option for excellent effluent quality and near zero-sludge production.

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
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
The Other ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Urban Wastewater ◽  
Sludge Production

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.

Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) regulation of nutrient removal in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Li ◽  
P. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Organic Substrate ◽  
Microbial Biodegradation ◽  
Scale Experiment ◽  
One Year

Redox potential (ORP) regulation of nutrient removal in aeration tanks was tested for one year in three activated sludge wastewater treatment plants in Cincinnati, OH. The experiment results show a good relationship between ORP values and nutrient removal. Macro-biodegradation and sorption of substrate by activated sludge can significantly increase wastewater ORP, indicating the improvement of redox status of the bulk liquor. DO higher than 1.0 mg/L is necessary for good biodegradation and the improvement of liquid redox status. ORP values at higher temperatures (Twater=20–26°C) were lower than ORP values at lower temperatures (Twater=14–19°C), caused by the lower oxygen saturation capacity in wastewater and the more rapid oxygen consumption by microorganism under warmer conditions. Nitrification occurred at higher ORP values (380 mV) than did organic substrate oxidation (250mV). This verifies that different metabolic processes dominate in different ORP ranges. The pilot-scale experiment results demonstrate that the wastewater ORP values continued to increase throughout the whole 6-hour cycle when the influent COD was higher than 1,000 mg/L. For influent with low COD (40–120 mg/L), the wastewater ORP values did not increase in the second 3 hours of the cycle, during which time the microbial-biodegradation within the activated sludge floc dominated. High DO concentrations (6–8 mg/L) did not help improve the redox status. In fully-aerated wastewater, oxygen deeply penetrated into the activated sludge flocs, and microorganisms biodegraded the substrates within the flocs. Endogenous metabolism predominated.

scholarly journals Benchmarking biological nutrient removal in wastewater treatment plants: influence of mathematical model assumptions

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 1496-1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Flores-Alsina ◽  
Krist V. Gernaey ◽  
Ulf Jeppsson
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Electron Acceptor ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Reference Case

This paper examines the effect of different model assumptions when describing biological nutrient removal (BNR) by the activated sludge models (ASM) 1, 2d & 3. The performance of a nitrogen removal (WWTP1) and a combined nitrogen and phosphorus removal (WWTP2) benchmark wastewater treatment plant was compared for a series of model assumptions. Three different model approaches describing BNR are considered. In the reference case, the original model implementations are used to simulate WWTP1 (ASM1 & 3) and WWTP2 (ASM2d). The second set of models includes a reactive settler, which extends the description of the non-reactive TSS sedimentation and transport in the reference case with the full set of ASM processes. Finally, the third set of models is based on including electron acceptor dependency of biomass decay rates for ASM1 (WWTP1) and ASM2d (WWTP2). The results show that incorporation of a reactive settler: (1) increases the hydrolysis of particulates; (2) increases the overall plant's denitrification efficiency by reducing the SNOx concentration at the bottom of the clarifier; (3) increases the oxidation of COD compounds; (4) increases XOHO and XANO decay; and, finally, (5) increases the growth of XPAO and formation of XPHA,Stor for ASM2d, which has a major impact on the whole P removal system. Introduction of electron acceptor dependent decay leads to a substantial increase of the concentration of XANO, XOHO and XPAO in the bottom of the clarifier. The paper ends with a critical discussion of the influence of the different model assumptions, and emphasizes the need for a model user to understand the significant differences in simulation results that are obtained when applying different combinations of ‘standard’ models.

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