Towards carbon-neutral wastewater reclamation: Long-Term performance evolution and greenhouse gas emission analysis in a mega-scale reclaimed water plant.

Due to the population growth and reduction of water resources, wastewater treatment and reuse vital. As the secondary wastewater treatment processes enable removes a significant amount of P and N, nutrient-rich effluents can cause eutrophication in water bodies. On the other hand, nutrients removal in sewage treatment using mechanical methods is costly and complex. The aquaculture method using Azolla filiculoides could be an appropriate option for removing total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater. Synthetic wastewater has been prepared in the typical range of municipal wastewater. Two g fresh weight of an acclimatized A.filiculoides was floated in sample bowls each one containing 500 CC prepared wastewater. Total nitrogen, TP, and COD removal by Azolla filiculoides for 21-days were optimized and investigated using the response surface methodology (RSM). For this aim, the D-optimal method was used to optimize the three independent variables (TP concentration (10.8-84.6mg l- 1), TN concentration (20-99mg l- 1), and COD concentration (66.26-415mg l- 1)) for their maximum removal efficiency of them. Experiments were performed on 28 runs in which independent variables were measured using a HACH DR 5000 spectrometer. Predicted R-squared for COD, TP, TN removal, and Azolla mass (responses) have been equal to -0.0897, 0.8514, 0.7779, and 0.5645, respectively. The model was used to maximize Azolla growth and maximize removal efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and COD that occurred in minimum concentrations of TN (20mg l- 1), TP (10.8mg l- 1), and COD (66.26mg l- 1). The removal efficiency of Azolla was obtained 77.5 % for COD, 66.8 % for TP, and 78.1 % for TN in the optimum condition of independent variables. Also, increase of Azolla mass was 239 %, with desirability of 0.66. The difference between model prediction and model validation testing for Azolla mass increase, COD, TN, and TP removal was equal to ± 11.6 %, ± 7.9 %, ± 0.0 %, and ± 1.9 %, respectively. Azolla could remove phosphorus in nitrogen deficiency or even lack of nitrogen. Results indicate that removal efficiency has an upward trend as the Azolla growth increases. This kind of fern has a significant effect on removing nitrogen, phosphorus, and COD from an aqueous solution. The removal efficiency of TN, TP, and COD at optimum operating conditions showed good agreement with model-predicted removal efficiency.

In order to explore a new treatment process applying to decentralized domestic sewage treatment, and enhance removal of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), a novel system integrating anoxic–anaerobic–aerobic (reversed A2O) and electro-coagulation (EC) process was studied, and complex biological media (CMB) was used as suspended carrier for biofilm development. In this work, TN, TP and COD removal performance were investigated with consideration of three major factors, hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate (OLR) and sludge recycle ratio (SRR). Results showed that (1) The optimum HRT was between 8 and 12 h. The removal efficiencies of TN, TP and COD were about 68%, 95% and 95%, respectively. (2) With the increase of OLR, the removal efficiency of TN increased slowly. But it increased first and then declined for COD and TP removal. Their maximum were attained when OLR was 1.8 g(COD)/(L d), and they were 96% and 93%, respectively. (3) The optimum SRR was 75%. The COD, TN and TP removal efficiencies were about 95%, 72% and 98%, respectively. In this system, the maximum TN and COD removal were achieved in anoxic tank, but it was achieved in aerobic tank for TP removal. The EC bed enhanced the effluent quality, especially the efficiency in advanced P removal. From these results, it was concluded that the new process could be a reliable option for providing excellent effluent quality.

Integrating anaerobic digestion and microalgae cultivation for dairy wastewater treatment and potential biochemicals production from the harvested microalgal biomass

EFEITO DA TAXA DE AERAÇÃO NO DESEMPENHO DE ALAGADOS CONSTRUÍDOS AERADOS INTERMITENTEMENTE JOÃO GABRIEL THOMAZ QUELUZ; LAUREN NOZOMI MARQUES YABUKI E MARCELO LOUREIRO GARCIA Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Extas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24 A,1515, CEP: 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brasil. queluz@fca.unesp.br; lauren.yabuki@unesp.br; marcelo.garcia@unesp.br 1 RESUMO O presente trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes taxas de aeração na remoção de nitrogênio total (NT) e demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) em alagados construídos de fluxo subsuperficial horizontal (ACFH) aerados intermitentemente. Para isso, foram avaliados quatro ACFH em escala piloto utilizando diferentes taxas de aeração (0; 2; 5 e 10 L min-1) com intervalo de aeração intermitente fixo de 3 h d-1 (1h com aeração/7 horas sem aeração). Os sistemas receberam 8,6 L d-1 de efluente sintético, resultando em tempo de detenção hidráulica de 3 dias. Os resultados mostram que os ACFH aerados intermitentemente apresentaram elevada eficiência na remoção de DQO (>97%), NT (>80%) e NH4+ (>97%), enquanto o ACFH sem aeração apresentou menor eficiência na remoção de DQO (93,9%), NT (48,8%) e NH4+ (57,7%). Adicionalmente, os resultados também mostram que os três ACFH aerados intermitentemente obtiveram desempenho similar na remoção de DQO, NT e NH4+. Finalmente, os resultados permitem concluir que a aeração intermitente permite a ocorrência simultânea da nitrificação e da desnitrificação, aprimorando, assim, o desempenho dos ACFH na remoção de NT. Entretanto, o uso de diferentes taxas de aeração não altera a eficiência de remoção de NT e DQO. Palavras-chave: aeração artificial, remoção de DQO, remoção de nitrogênio. QUELUZ, J. G. T.; YABUKI, L. N. M.; GARCIA, M. L. EFFECT OF AERATION RATE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF INTERMITTENTLY AERATED CONSTRUCTED WETLAND 2 ABSTRACT The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of different aeration rates on the removal of total nitrogen (TN) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in intermittently aerated horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HFCW). Four pilot-scale HFCWs were evaluated using different aeration rates (0, 2, 5, and 10 L min-1) with a fixed intermittent aeration interval of 3 h d-1 (1 h with aeration / 7 h without aeration). The HFCWs received 8.6 L d-1 of synthetic effluent, resulting in a hydraulic retention time of 3 days. The results show that intermittently aerated HFCWs were highly efficient in removing COD (>97%), TN (>80%) and NH4+ (>97%), while the HFCW without aeration showed lower efficiencies in the removal of COD (93.9%), TN (48.8%), and NH4+ (57.7%). In addition, the results also show that the three intermittently aerated HFCW achieved similar performance in the removal of COD, TN, and NH4+. Finally, the results indicate that intermittent aeration allows the simultaneous occurrence of nitrification and denitrification, thus improving the performance of HFCW in removing TN. However, the use of different aeration rates does not alter COD and TN removal efficiencies. Keywords: artificial aeration, COD removal, the nitrogen removal.

A new modified anoxic-anaerobic-membrane bioreactor for treatment of real wastewater with a low carbon/nutrient ratio and high nitrate

Evaluating a hybrid process of anaerobic digestion, aerobic degradation, and electrochemical separation for swine wastewater treatment with methane and nutrient recovery

Potentiality of municipal sludge for biological gas production at Soba Station South of Khartoum (Sudan)

The polluted water of Chiang Mai’s iconic moat negatively impacts the city’s image, affecting perceptions among both residents and visitors. Furthermore, contamination of the moat poses significant risks to public health, underscoring the urgent need for cost-effective and sustainable remediation strategies. To achieve this goal, the implementation of bio-phytoremediation, using vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty), was proposed as a promising solution to this problem. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of vetiver grass, in combination with aeration, for removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrients from the moat’s water. Water samples collected from the moat were used in experimental setups, where hydroponically grown vetiver grass was cultivated on floating platforms, with some setups incorporating aeration and others without. A control group without vetiver platforms or aeration was also included. The results obtained demonstrated that the combination of vetiver grass and aeration yielded the highest removal efficiencies, achieving 96.38% COD removal (kCOD = -5×10-4 h-1), 91.57% NH3-N removal, and 70.59% total nitrogen (TN) removal (kTN = -0.115 h-1). Total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency was approximately 70% for both the vetiver platform with aeration, and the vetiver platform alone (kTP = -1×10-4 h-1). This study demonstrates the potential of vetiver grass as an effective bio-phytoremediation agent for the treatment of urban surface water. Implementing this approach in Chiang Mai’s moat could improve the city’s appearance, protect public health, promote sustainable water management, and do so in a cost-effective manner.

Effect of organic loading on the performance of MBR for advanced treatment and water reuse

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of intermittent aeration on the removal of ammonium (NH4+), total nitrogen (TN) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HFCW). Two HFCWs were studied, one non-aerated and another aerated intermittently, and both cultivated with Typha latifolia. Each system received 8.6 L day-1 of synthetic wastewater, resulting in 3 days of hydraulic retention time. The two systems displayed high efficiencies in the removal of COD (>90%); however, the intermittently aerated HFCW showed a higher rate of COD removal. Additionally, the removal of TN (48.8%) and NH4+ (57.7%) in the non-aerated system was limited, while in the aerated system, the efficiencies of TN (81.2%) and NH4+ (98.6%) removal were satisfactory. Thus, the results indicate that via intermittent aeration, nitrification and denitrification occur simultaneously, improving the performance of HFCW in the removal of TN and NH4+.

Cationic polymers have proven to be suitable flux enhancers (FEs) in large-scale aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs), whereas in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) research is scarce, and so far, only done at lab-scale. Results from MBRs cannot be directly translated to AnMBRs because the extent and nature of membrane fouling under anaerobic and aerobic conditions are different. Our research focused on the long-term effect of dosing the cationic polymer Adifloc KD451 to a pilot AnMBR, fed with source-separated domestic blackwater. A single dosage of Adifloc KD451 at 50 mg L−1 significantly enhanced the filtration performance in the AnMBR, revealed by a decrease in both fouling rate and total filtration resistance. Nevertheless, FE addition had an immediate negative effect on the specific methanogenic activity (SMA), but this was a reversible process that had no adverse effect on permeate quality or chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the AnMBR. Moreover, the FE had a long-term positive effect on AnMBR filtration performance and sludge filterability. These findings indicate that dosing Adifloc KD451 is a suitable strategy for fouling mitigation in AnMBRs because it led to a long-term improvement in filtration performance, while having no significant adverse effects on permeate quality or COD removal.

Conventional aerobic biological treatments of digested organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) slurries–usually conventional activated sludge or aerobic membrane bioreactor (AeMBR)–are inefficient in terms of energy and economically costly because of the high aeration requirements and the high amount of produced sludge. In this study, the supernatant obtained after the anaerobic digestion of OFMSW was treated in a mesophilic demo-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) at cross flow velocities (CFVs) between 1 and 3.5 m⋅s–1. The aim was to determine the process performance of the system with an external ultrafiltration unit, in terms of organic matter removal and sludge filterability. In previous anaerobic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) tests, without ultrafiltration, specific gas production between 40 and 83 NL CH4⋅kg–1 chemical oxygen demand (COD) fed and removals in the range of 10–20% total COD (tCOD) or 59–77% soluble COD (sCOD) were obtained, for organic loading rates (OLR) between 1.7 and 4.4 kg COD⋅m–3reactor d–1. Data helped to identify a simplified model with the aim of understanding and expressing the process performance. Methane content in biogas was in the range of 74–77% v:v. In the AnMBR configuration, the COD removal has been in the ranges of 15.6–38.5 and 61.3–70.4% for total and sCOD, respectively, with a positive correlation between solids retention time (SRT, ranging from 7.3 to 24.3 days) and tCOD removal. The constant used in the model expressing inhibition, attributable to the high nitrogen content (3.6 ± 1.0 g N-NH4+⋅L–1), indicated that this inhibition decreased when SRT increased, explaining values measured for volatile fatty acids concentration, which decreased when SRT increased and OLR, measured per unit of volatile suspended solids in the reactor, decreased. The alkalinity was high enough to allow a stable process throughout the experiments. Constant CFV operation resulted in excessive fouling and sudden trans-membrane pressure (TMP) increases. Nevertheless, an ultrafiltration regime based on alternation of CFV (20 min with a certain CFVi and then 5 min at CFVi + 1 m⋅s–1) allowed the membranes to filter at a flux (standardized at 20°C temperature) ranging from 2.8 to 7.3 L⋅m–2⋅h–1, over 331 days of operation, even at very high suspended solids concentrations (>30 g total suspended solids⋅L–1) in the reactor sludge. This flux range confirms that fouling is the main issue that can limit the spread of AnMBR potential for the studied stream. No clear correlation was found between CFV or SRT vs. fouling rate, in terms of either TMP⋅time–1 or permeability⋅time–1. As part of the demo-scale study, other operational limitations were observed: irreversible fouling, scaling (in the form of struvite deposition), ragging, and sludging. Because ragging and sludging were also observed in the existing AeMBR, it can be stated that both are attributable to the stream and to the difficulty of removing existing fibers. All the mentioned phenomena could have contributed to the high data dispersion of experimental results.

Achieving low-carbon municipal wastewater treatment by anaerobic membrane bioreactor at seasonal temperatures: A pilot scale investigation on reducing sludge yield and greenhouse gas emissions

Rather than direct nutrient removal from wastewaters, an alternative approach aimed at nutrient recovery from aquacultural wastewaters could enable sustainable management for aquaculture production. This study demonstrated the feasibility of cultivating marine macroalgae (Chaetomorpha maxima) with a moving bed bioreactor (MBBR-MA), to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in aquaculture wastewater as well as to produce macroalgae biomass. MBBR-MA significantly increased the simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate in comparison with only MBBR, resulting in an average total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency of 42.8 ± 5.5% and 83.7 ± 7.7%, respectively, in MBBR-MA while MBBR had no capacity for TN and TP removal. No chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was detected in both reactors. Phosphorus could be a limiting factor for nitrogen uptake when N : P ratio increased. The recovered nitrogen and phosphorus resulted in a specific growth rate of 3.86%–10.35%/day for C. maxima with an uptake N : P ratio of 6. The presence of macroalgae changed the microbial community in both the biofilter and water by decreasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Nitrospirae and increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes. These findings indicate that the integration of the macroalgae C. maxima with MBBR could represent an effective wastewater treatment option, especially for marine recirculating aquaculture systems.

Improved anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and domestic wastewater by copper supplementation – Microbial community change and enhanced effluent quality