scholarly journals A simple field essay for detecting departures from expected performance in small-scale, remote or rural wastewater treatment plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 1380-1392
Author(s):  
Marcos von Sperling ◽  
Emmanuelle Machado Maia Nogueira Lima ◽  
Mirene Augusta de Andrade Moraes

Abstract A scientific basis is given to the traditional method of inferring effluent quality based on visualization of samples in transparent flasks. A scale of 1–6, with different printed grey intensities, is placed behind transparent PET bottles containing the sample, and gives an indication of the range of turbidity in the sample (1 is the most transparent and can only be visualized if the effluent is well clarified; in the other spectrum, 6 is the darkest and indicates highly turbid effluents). Turbidity has been correlated with total suspended solids (TSS), particulate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and particulate chemical oxygen demand (COD) based on thousands of monitored data collected in the effluent from seven different treatment processes in Brazil: upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, trickling filters, activated sludge, horizontal wetland, vertical wetland, polishing ponds and coarse filter after pond. The method is simple and instantaneous, can be used in virtually all places and in every visit of the operator to the remote treatment plant, allows recording of the image in smartphones, does not use any equipment, chemicals or energy, and has been showed to represent well the effluent quality of existing treatment plants. This essay is complementary and does not substitute specific traditional sampling and analysis, but allows easy inference of deterioration of effluent quality.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 908-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Saavedra ◽  
Ramiro Escalera ◽  
Gustavo Heredia ◽  
Renato Montoya ◽  
Ivette Echeverría ◽  
...  

Abstract This study aims to determine the seasonal variability in the performance of a medium size population wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Bolivia. The semi-arid area where the WWTP is located is characterized as agricultural land, with an annual rainfall of 500 mm and a mean temperature of 17 °C. The WWTP is built up of five modules, each one comprising two treatment trains composed of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and horizontal gravel filter. The performance of the full process has been determined based on water quantity and quality. Seven monitoring campaigns of chemical and physical wastewater characteristics were performed from March to December 2017. The measured effluent showed average removal efficiencies of 83 ± 8% and 37 ± 60% for total chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS), respectively. The treatment system has proven to be efficient to remove organic matter and TSS, despite the occurrence of high COD and total solids (TS) influent concentrations, the accumulation of solids at all the processes and the variability of flow and temperature inside the UASB reactors. In order to improve further this efficiency, it is recommended to implement a primary sedimentation unit as a pretreatment for the UASB system that would help to homogenize both the flow and the quality of the influent.


2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Del Nery ◽  
M. H. Z. Damianovic ◽  
R. B. Moura ◽  
E. Pozzi ◽  
E. C. Pires ◽  
...  

This paper assesses a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) regarding the technology used, as well as organic matter and nutrient removal efficiencies aiming to optimize the treatment processes involved and wastewater reclamation. The WWTP consists of a dissolved air flotation (DAF) system, an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, an aerated-facultative pond (AFP) and a chemical-DAF system. The removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (97.9 ± 1.0%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (98.6 ± 1.0%) and oil and grease (O&G) (91.1 ± 5.2%) at the WWTP, the nitrogen concentration of 17 ± 11 mgN-NH3 and phosphorus concentration of 1.34 ± 0.93 mgPO4−3/L in the final effluent indicate that the processes used are suitable to comply with discharge standards in water bodies. Nitrification and denitrification tests conducted using biomass collected at three AFP points indicated that nitrification and denitrification could take place in the pond.


Author(s):  
Narendra Pal Gole

The implementation of wastewater treatment plants has been a challenge for most countries. Economic resources, political will, institutional strength, and cultural background are important factors that define the trajectory of pollution control in many countries. Technology is sometimes mentioned as one of the reasons hindering further development. Therefore, a key objective of this research is to evaluate the performance of a plant based on the 345 MLD Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) technology by analyzing the physical and chemical parameters of the water treated by UASB to evaluate the performance of the plant located. at Bharwara Tech from Gomti Nagar Lucknow. In this study, the performance of the wastewater treatment plant and the UASB reactor was calculated. Wastewater is mixed with domestic wastewater, so the concentration of BOD and COD is relatively low. The amount of biogas produced by the UASB reactor is also less than its design value. All STP inlet and outlet water concentration results are displayed graphically.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. N. Rao ◽  
Tapas Nandy

Coagulation treatment of sulfide-rich effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor in a full-scale Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is reported. The STP treats combined wastewater from tanneries and sewage, however, the treatment in the existing UASB reactor was not optimal. This resulted in high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 530–590 mg/L; biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 180–210 mg/L; and sulfide, 142–161 mg/L in the treated effluent. The high concentrations of sulfide in the UASB effluent resulted in higher oxygen demand. Therefore, further treatment of UASB effluent was necessary to comply with the discharge standards. In the present study, polyaluminium chloride (PACl, liquid & solid-type), ferric alum and Fe-salts (ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride) were used as coagulants and their effectiveness was compared. Optimization of doses of the chosen coagulants/salts, were carried out with the objective of achieving discharge standards with respect to COD, BOD and sulfide. Application of optimized dose of Ecorite PACl-2018 (0.378 mmol/L Al) and PACl (other brand, OB, 0.684 mmol/L Al) resulted in 68.0–80.0% TSS (total suspended solids), 13.0–18.0% COD, 26.0–35.0% BOD and 58.5–59.2% sulfide removal. On the other hand, use of Fe-salts lead to enhanced removal of pollutants; 80.0–83.0% TSS, 57.0–60.7% COD, 88.0–89.0% BOD and 99.0–99.4% sulfide. The Fe-salts were found to be more effective for sulfide removal as FeS. Such efficient removal of sulfide leads to decrease in COD and BOD concentrations and ensures compliance of final treated effluent from STP with the discharge standards.


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 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 1951-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Cabral ◽  
A. L. Sanson ◽  
R. J. C. F. Afonso ◽  
C. A. L. Chernicharo ◽  
J. C. Araújo

Abstract Two bioreactors were investigated as an alternative for the post-treatment of effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating domestic sewage, aiming at dissolved sulfide and methane removal. The bioreactors (R-control and R-air) were operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRT; 6 and 3 h) with or without aeration. Large sulfide and methane removal efficiencies were achieved by the microaerated reactor at HRT of 6 h. At this HRT, sulfide removal efficiencies were equal to 61% and 79%, and methane removal efficiencies were 31% and 55% for R-control and R-air, respectively. At an HRT of 3 h, sulfide removal efficiencies were 22% (R-control) and 33% (R-air) and methane removal did not occur. The complete oxidation of sulfide, with sulfate formation, prevailed in both phases and bioreactors. However, elemental sulfur formation was more predominant at an HRT of 6 h than at an HRT of 3 h. Taken together, the results show that post-treatment improved the anaerobic effluent quality in terms of chemical oxygen demand and solids removal. However, ammoniacal nitrogen was not removed due to either the low concentration of air provided or the absence of microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle.


2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 1887-1894 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Singh ◽  
A. K. Mittal

This study reports applicability of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process to treat the leachate from a municipal landfill located in Delhi. A laboratory scale reactor was operated at an organic loading rate of 3.00 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/m3 d corresponding to a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 h for over 8 months. The effect of toxicity of leachate, and feed composition on the treatability of leachate was evaluated. Average COD of the leachate, during the study period varied between 8,880 and 66,420 mg/l. Toxicity of the leachate used during a period of 8 months varied from LC50 1.22 to 12.35 for 96 h. The removal efficiency of soluble COD ranged between 91 and 67% for fresh leachate and decreased drastically from 90 to 35% for old leachate having high toxicity. The efficiency varied from 81 to 65%. The reactor performed more efficiently for the treatment of fresh leachate (less toxic, LC50 11.64, 12.35, and 12.15 for 96 h) as compared with old leachate (more toxic, LC50 1.22 for 96 h). Toxicity of the leachate affected its treatment potential by the UASB.


2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
S K Patidar ◽  
Vinod Tare

The effect of micro-nutrients, such as Fe, Ni, Zn, Co, and Mo, on anaerobic degradation of sulfate laden organics was investigated using bench-scale models of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), and hybrid anaerobic baffled reactor (HABR), operating in varying conditions in ten phases (organic loading of 1.9–5.75 kg COD/(m3·d), sulfate loading of 0.54–1.88 kg SO42–/(m3·d), chemical oxygen demand (COD):SO42–ratio of 2.0–8.6). In the initial phase, no nutrient limitation was observed with COD removal of more than 94% in all three systems. Subsequently, increase in sulfate loading resulted in Ni and Co limitation and their supplementation restored COD removal in UASB system. However, baffled systems did not recover because of severe inhibition by sulfide. Results indicate that precipitation of nutrients could seriously deteriorate process performance, leading to failure even before sulfide concentration attains toxic level. The limitation of Fe coupled with high sulfate loading (1.88 kg SO42–/(m3·d)) resulted in growth of low-density, fragile, hollow, and granular biomass in UASB that washed out and caused process instability. Supplementation of Fe with other nutrients stabilized UASB process and also improved COD removal.Key words: anaerobic degradation, nutrients, UASB, ABR, HABR, sulfide toxicity, sulfate laden organics.


2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarek Elmitwalli

Although the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor has been widely applied for domestic wastewater treatment in many developing countries, there is no sufficient mathematical model for proper design and operation of the reactor. An empirical model based on non-linear regression was developed to represent the physical and chemical removal of suspended solids (SS) in the reactor. Moreover, a simplified dynamic model based on ADM1 and the empirical model for SS removal was developed for anaerobic digestion of the entrapped SS and dissolved matter in the wastewater. The empirical model showed that effluent suspended chemical oxygen demand (CODss) concentration is directly proportional to the influent CODss concentration and inversely proportional to both the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the reactor and wastewater temperature. For obtaining sufficient CODss removal, the HRT of the UASB reactor must be higher than 4 h, and higher HRT than 12 h slightly improved CODss removal. The dynamic model results showed that the required time for filling the reactor with sludge mainly depends on influent total chemical oxygen demand (CODt) concentration and HRT. The influent CODt concentration, HRT and temperature play a crucial role on the performance of the reactor. The results indicated that shorter HRT is needed for optimization of CODt removal, as compared with optimization of CODt conversion to methane. Based on the model results, the design HRT of the UASB reactor should be selected based on the optimization of wastewater conversion and minimization of biodegradable SS accumulation in the sludge bed, not only based on COD removal, to guarantee a stable reactor performance.


2010 ◽  
Vol 113-116 ◽  
pp. 1031-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Sun ◽  
Zi Rui Guo ◽  
Xiao Ye Liu ◽  
Yong Feng Li

In order to disscuss the ability of H2-production and wastewater treatment, a up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) using a synthesize substrate with brown sugar wastewater was conducted to investigate the hydrogen yield, hydrogen producing rate, fermentation type of biohydrogen production, and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate, respectively. In this paper, UASB reactor was seeded with sludge from the Harbin Wenchang Sewage treatment plant dewatered sludge. Successful start-up of the reactor was achieved within 40 days at 35±1°C.The concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in influent is increased from 1100mg/L . When it reached maximum, the loading rate was adjusted in a small way and indicators such as VFA, pH and COD in effluent as well as gas production are observed. The most relevant parameters were calibrated with lab-scale experimental data. These experimental results clearly showed that, the most proper corresponding organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) were 6 kg/ (m3.d)(COD=6000mg/L)and 24 h respectively. Up to 85% of COD was removed and the CH4 production rate of 3.2 m3 / (m3 .d) was obtained. The produced biogas contained 72% of CH4. In the mean time, anaerobic sludge multiplies more faster and exiguous particles appeared. Granules with diameter 1-3mm.


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