A new sulfidogenic oxic-settling anaerobic (SOSA) process: The effects of sulfur-cycle bioaugmentation on the operational performance, sludge properties and microbial communities

Abstract

In-situ sludge reduction can be achieved by inserting an anaerobic side-stream reactor in the sludge return line of the conventional activated sludge (CAS) process. This modified oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) process can reduce sludge production by 30–50% through feast-fast alternating conditions. This paper proposes a new bioprocess called the sulfidogenic oxic-settling anaerobic (SOSA) process with OSA configuration and the addition of sulfate in side-stream reactor. The new bioprocess augments the conventional anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic feast-fast bioconversions with sulfur biochemical transformations (i.e. sulfate reduction and sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic denitrification). A lab-scale SOSA process was operated for 260 days in parallel with the anoxic/oxic (AO) CAS process and the conventional OSA process as control systems. Based on the experimental results, the feasibility of the new SOSA process was evaluated, and the effects of sulfur bioaugmentation on the effluent quality, sludge reduction, sludge physico-chemical properties and microbial communities were examined. The SOSA process i) removed 98% of the organics (chemical oxygen demand, COD) and 99% of the ammonia present with a lower observed sludge yield (0.204 g TSS/g CODremoved) than those of the OSA and AO processes (0.292 and 0.473 g TSS/g CODremoved respectively), ii) denitrified 18% and 6% more nitrogen to dinitrogen gas than did the CAS and OSA processes respectively, iii) produced sludge with improved settleability and dewaterability, iv) encouraged sludge decomposition with greater destruction of extracellular polymeric substances and v) enriched sulfur-cycle related and hydrolytic/fermentative bacteria. The possible mechanisms of sulfur augmentation and limitations of the present study are also discussed.