Activated Sludge Plant Research Articles

Plant-wide Optimization of a Full-Scale Activated Sludge Plant with Anaerobic Sludge Treatment

This paper presents the application of a plant-wide model-based methodology to wastewater treatment plants. The focus is on a tertiary activated sludge plant with anaerobic sludge treatment, owned and operated by Sydney Water. A dynamic plant-wide model is first developed and calibrated using historical data. A scenario-based optimization procedure is then applied for computing the effect of key discharge constraints on the minimal net power consumption, via the repeated solution of a dynamic optimization problem. The results show a potential for reduction of the energy consumption by about 20%, through operational changes only, without compromising the current effluent quality. It is also found that nitrate (and hence total nitrogen) discharge could be reduced from its current level around 22 mg(N)/L to less than 15 mg(N)/L with no increase in net power consumption, and could be further reduced to <10 mg(N)/L subject to a 15% increase in net power consumption upon diverting part of the primary sludge to the secondary treatment stage. This improved understanding of the relationship between nutrient removal and energy use will feed into discussions with environmental regulators regarding nutrient discharge licensing.

Performance of Urban Wastewater Treatment of Four Activate Sludge Treatment Plants in Tunisia

In water-scarce regions, such as Tunisia which is known by the vulnerability of its water resources, national policy encourages and imposes laws opting for environmental sustainability and the preservation of water resources. The current study aims to determine the occurrence and removal of protozoan cysts, helminthes eggs, fecal bacteria, organic load and chemical pollution in the urban wastewater of activated sludge plants in Tunisia. The results show that the absence of primary sedimentation and operation of organic and fluid overload appears to be the main causes of the poor quality of the treated wastewater. The presence of protozoan cysts, helminthes eggs and bacteria as well as the high content of organic matter and nutrient elements greatly limits the reuse of wastewater in agriculture, in particular.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment by Using MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) Review Study

This study demonstrated the importance, process, activation and applications of Membrane in bioreactor to treat the waste water. Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) process consists of a biological reactor integrated with membranes that combine clarification and filtration of an activated sludge process into a simplified, single step process. Operating as an MBR allows conventional activated sludge plants to become single step processes, which produce high quality effluent potentially suitable for reuse. Application of MBR technology for industrial wastewater treatment has also gained attention because of the robustness of the process. Theoretically, maintenance of long SRT in MBR is in favor of the retention and development of special microorganisms, which may lead to better removal of refractory organic matter and make the system more robust to load variations and toxic shocks. Literature suggested the conceptual expectation of enhanced biodegradation of hardly biodegradable compounds in MBR does not often come true. Improved biodegradation to certain extent has been reported in a few studies; however the underlying factors leading to such improvement still remains to be elucidated. This is comprehensive review of the studies dealing with recalcitrant industrial wastewater treatment by MBR, and casts light on the strategies to achieve enhanced biodegradation of hardly biodegradable industrial pollutants in MBR.

Effect of plant species on water balance in a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland planted with Arundo donax L. and Cyperus alternifolius L. – Two-year tests in a Mediterranean environment in the West of Sicily (Italy)

In constructed wetland systems (CWs) for wastewater treatment, evapotranspiration (ET) is the most important water balance component in arid and semi-arid regions, where high performance levels are needed when treating contaminants and where it is also vital to preserve as much water as possible for reuse in irrigation. This study shows the results of a series of water balance measurements obtained between 2012 and 2013 from a pilot HSSF system in the West of Sicily (Italy). The system was made by two separate vegetated units: one with Arundo donax L. (giant reed) and the other with Cyperus alternifolius L. (umbrella sedge), and fed with urban wastewater following secondary treatment from an activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant. The aim of the study was to evaluate how two different macrophytes can affect the amount of water at the outflow of CWs under identical environmental, growth and hydraulic conditions. ET values were calculated by determining three components of a simplified water balance model without taking subsurface and surface water into consideration. Crop coefficients were estimated using the FAO 56 method analogous to herbaceous crops in open field cultivation. In the two years of tests, giant reed-unit was found to have higher cumulative evapotranspiration values than umbrella sedge-unit, with an average of 4273.6mm. For both macrophytes, ET values were constantly found to be higher during the spring-summer season when the plants reached maximum vegetative growth. Crop coefficients were found to be higher than those of traditional crops grown in the Mediterranean area for all growth stages. Water use efficiency (WUE) was rather low on average, at 0.94g/L for giant reed-unit and 0.66g/L for umbrella sedge-unit. Results showed that greater or lesser amount of water at the outflow of the CWs is always dependent upon the ET rate of the species and it is essential to estimate the ET when designing a CWs in those regions where prolonged periods of drought can substantially reduce the amount of treated wastewater available for reuse in agriculture.

Flow cytometric quantification of viruses in activated sludge

Viruses may play a critical role in the microbial dynamics of activated sludge systems; however the difficulty of their quantification makes long term and large scale studies costly, timely and challenging. Thus a flow cytometric protocol was optimised and employed to determine virus abundance in activated sludge samples. The best flow cytometry signature and highest virus count was obtained by separating the indigenous floc-associated viruses using Tween 80 and sodium pyrophosphate, diluting the sample with Tris–EDTA and staining with SYBR Green II. Using the optimised protocol viral concentrations from 25 activated sludge plants were determined, with average concentrations of 2.35 × 109 mL−1 observed. Direct counts by transmission electron microscopy were highly correlated with flow cytometric counts (p = <0.05 and r2 = 0.77), with concentrations from both quantification methods comparable at the order of magnitude level. The high counting efficiency, ease of preparation and rapidity and reproducibility of analysis makes flow cytometric quantification of viruses in activated sludge ideal for routine investigation and thus invaluable in unravelling the complexity of phage host interactions in such systems.

Molecular analysis for screening human bacterial pathogens in municipal wastewater treatment and reuse.

Effective and sensitive monitoring of human pathogenic bacteria in municipal wastewater treatment is important not only for managing public health risk related to treated wastewater reuse, but also for ensuring proper functioning of the treatment plant. In this study, three different 16S rRNA gene molecular analysis methodologies were employed to screen bacterial pathogens in samples collected at three different stages of an activated sludge plant. Overall bacterial diversity was analyzed using next generation sequencing (NGS) on the Illumina MiSeq platform, as well as PCR-DGGE followed by band sequencing. In addition, a microdiversity analysis was conducted using PCR-DGGE, targeting Escherichia coli. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using QIIME protocol by clustering sequences against the Human Pathogenic Bacteria Database. NGS data were also clustered against the Greengenes database for a genera-level diversity analysis. NGS proved to be the most effective approach screening the sequences of 21 potential human bacterial pathogens, while the E. coli microdiversity analysis yielded one (O157:H7 str. EDL933) out of the two E. coli strains picked up by NGS. Overall diversity using PCR-DGGE did not yield any pathogenic sequence matches even though a number of sequences matched the NGS results. Overall, sequences of Gram-negative pathogens decreased in relative abundance along the treatment train while those of Gram-positive pathogens increased.

Obtaining process mass balances of pharmaceuticals and triclosan to determine their fate during wastewater treatment

To better understand pharmaceutical fate during wastewater treatment, analysis in both aqueous and particulate phases is needed. Reported herein is a multi-residue method for the determination of ten pharmaceutical drugs and the personal care product triclosan in wastewater matrices. Method quantitation limits ranged from 7.6 to 76.6ngl−1 for aqueous phases and from 7.0 to 96.7ngg−1 for particulate phases. The analytical method was applied to attain a complete process mass balance of a pilot-scale activated sludge plant (ASP) operated under controlled conditions. The mass balance (inclusive of aqueous and particulate concentrations at all sample points) was used to diagnose removal, revealing pharmaceuticals to be separable into three fate pathways: (a) biological degradation, (b) sorption onto activated sludge and (c) resistant to removal from the aqueous phase. These differences in fate behaviour explained a broad range of secondary removal observed (−8 to 99%). The ASP was also simultaneously compared to a full-scale trickling filter (TF) works whilst receiving the same influent wastewater. Performance of the ASP and TF was similar, achieving total pharmaceutical removals of 253 and 249μgg−1 biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removed, respectively. This corresponded with reductions in total pharmaceutical load of 91 and 90% (ANOVA, p-value>0.05). Interestingly, despite low suspended solid concentrations final effluents of both the ASP and TF contained significant concentrations of some chemicals in the particulate phase. Individually, triclosan and the antibiotics ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were within the particulate phase of effluents at concentrations ranging from 26 to 296ngl−1.

Challenges encountered when expanding activated sludge models: a case study based on N2O production.

It is common practice in wastewater engineering to extend standard activated sludge models (ASMs) with extra process equations derived from batch experiments. However, such experiments have often been performed under conditions different from the ones normally found in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As a consequence, these experiments might not be representative for full-scale performance, and unexpected behaviour may be observed when simulating WWTP models using the derived process equations. In this paper we want to highlight problems encountered using a simplified case study: a modified version of the Activated Sludge Model No. 1 (ASM1) is upgraded with nitrous oxide (N2O) formation by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Four different model structures have been implemented in the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 1 (BSM1). The results of the investigations revealed two typical difficulties: problems related to the overall mathematical model structure and problems related to the published set of parameter values. The paper describes the model implementation incompatibilities, the variability in parameter values and the difficulties of reaching similar conditions when simulating a full-scale activated sludge plant. Finally, the simulation results show large differences in oxygen uptake rates, nitritation rates and consequently the quantity of N2O emission (GN2O) using the different models.

Application of high‐temperature Fenton oxidation for the treatment of sulfonation plant wastewater

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis work explores the application of an intensified Fenton process to a sulfonation plant wastewater for its further discharge into an activated sludge plant. The application of high‐temperature Fenton to this kind of wastewater has not been reported so far. Herein, it has been demonstrated to provide a better performance than other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).RESULTSThe factorial experimental design methodology applied for describing the effect of the operating conditions, temperature, hydrogen peroxide dose and pH, demonstrated that quadratic models satisfactorily fitted the experimental results according to the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Response surface, contour plots and surface projections of the models were obtained describing the individual and crossed effects of the operating conditions on the selected responses: linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction.CONCLUSIONSWorking at 94 °C, 70% of the stoichiometric H2O2 dose relative to initial COD, 1 h reaction time and the pH of the wastewater as received (1.7) enabled achievement of the discharge limits into the exiting activated sludge plant of the petrochemical complex where the sulfonation plant is located. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages infecting nocardioforms in wastewater treatment plant.

Activated sludge plants (ASP) are associated with the stable foaming problem worldwide. Apart from the physical and chemical treatment methods, biological treatment method has been least explored and may prove to be a novel and ecofriendly approach to tackle the problem of stable foam formation. In ASP Nocardia species are commonly found and are one of the major causes for forming sticky and stable foam. This study describes the isolation and characterization of three Nocardia bacteriophages NOC1, NOC2, and NOC3 for the control of Nocardia species. The bacteriophages isolated in this study have shown promising results in controlling foam producing bacterial growth under laboratory conditions, suggesting that it may prove useful in the field as an alternative biocontrol agent to reduce the foaming problem. To the best of our knowledge to date no work has been published from India related to biological approach for the control of foaming.

A simple cost-effective manometric respirometer: design and application in wastewater biomonitoring

Application of respirometric tools in wastewater engineering fields is still not getting familiarity and acceptance by academy or industry in developing countries as compared to the use of conventional biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) approach. To justify the applicability of respirometry, a low-cost respirometric device suitable for monitoring biodegradation process in wastewater has been developed. This device contains six independently operating reactors placed in a temperature control unit for the bioassay of five wastewater samples simultaneously (along with one blank). Each reactor is equipped with a magnetic stirrer for the continuous agitation of the test sample. Six manometers, linked with the individual reactors, measure the pressure and volume changes in the headspace gas phase of the reactor. Working formulae have been derived to convert the ‘volume-change in gas phase’ data to ‘the oxygen depletion in the whole liquid–gas system’ data. The performance of the device has been tested with glucose–glutamic acid standard solution and found satisfactory. Conventional BOD test and the respirometric measurements were performed simultaneously and it is found that in addition to measuring the BOD of the sample, this device gives oxygen uptake profile for further analysis to determine the biokinetic coefficients. Additionally, in some cases, following a specific test protocol, the respirometer can indirectly estimate the carbon dioxide evolved during biodegradation process for calculating respiratory activity parameter such as respiratory quotient. It is concluded that the device can be used in the laboratories associated with the activated sludge plants and also for teaching and research purposes in developing countries.

Accumulation of Chemical Oxygen Demand in Membrane Bioreactors at Pilot-Scale and Full-Scale Conditions

AbstractThe accumulation of high-molecular-weight organic compounds is a common phenomenon in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). It is currently not known to what extent accumulation occurs in full-scale plants because relevant tests were mostly performed in experimental plants. To overcome the lack of practical experience, a measurement campaign was carried out including four municipal wastewater treatment plants and two pilot plants [one MBR and one conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)]. The results clearly showed that accumulation depends on sludge retention time (SRT), temperature, sludge volume index (SVI), and the fraction of volatile suspended solids (VSS). As a result of biological processes, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) accumulation may increase for a limited period of time and amounts 10–120 mg/(PE·d). The introduction of sludge from a municipal MBR into the system of conventional activated sludge plants (CAS) for external sludge handling does not affect the treatment efficacy of the la...

Diagnostic investigation of steroid estrogen removal by activated sludge at varying solids retention time

The impact of solids retention time (SRT) on estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) removal in an activated sludge plant (ASP) was examined using a pilot plant to closely control operation. Exsitu analytical methods were simultaneously used to enable discrimination of the dominant mechanisms governing estrogen removal following transitions in SRT from short (3d) to medium (10d) and long (27d) SRTs which broadly represent those encountered at full-scale. Total estrogen (∑EST, i.e., sum of E1, E2, E3 and EE2) removals which account for aqueous and particulate concentrations were 70±8, 95±1 and 93±2% at 3, 10 and 27d SRTs respectively. The improved removal observed following an SRT increase from 3 to 10d was attributable to the augmented biodegradation of the natural estrogens E1 and E2. Interestingly, estrogen biodegradation per bacterial cell increased with SRT. These were 499, 1361 and 1750ng 1012 viable cells−1d−1. This indicated an improved efficiency of the same group or the development of a more responsive group of bacteria. In this study no improvement in absolute ∑EST removal was observed in the ASP when SRT increased from 10 to 27d. However, batch studies identified an augmented biomass sorption capacity for the more hydrophobic estrogens E2 and EE2 at 27d, equivalent to an order of magnitude. The lack of influence on estrogen removal during pilot plant operation can be ascribed to their distribution within activated sludge being under equilibrium. Consequently, lower wastage of excess sludge inherent of long SRT operation counteracts any improvement in sorption.

Urban water reuse: microbial pathogens control by direct filtration and ultraviolet disinfection.

Physicochemical treatment efficiency for unrestricted urban water reuse was evaluated at a conventional activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Pilot plant set-up consisted of an alum coagulation step, granular media upflow flocculation and direct downflow dual-media filtration followed by ultraviolet disinfection (dose of 95 mJ cm⁻²). Optimum aluminum sulfate dosage of 10 mg L⁻¹ and coagulation pH 7.0 were preset based on bench scale tests. Under WWTP stable operation, water quality met United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) suggested guidelines for unrestricted urban reuse regarding turbidity (mean value 1.3 NTU) and suspended solids (mean value 2.1 mg L⁻¹). When WWTP overall plant performance dropped from 90 to 80% (although BOD value stayed below 6 mg O₂ L⁻¹, suggesting unrestricted reuse), solids breakthrough in filtrate was observed. Microorganism removal rates were: total coliforms 60.0%, Escherichia coli 63.0%, Giardia spp. 81.0%, and helminth eggs 62.5%; thus organisms still remained in filtrate. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection efficiency was 4.1- and 3.8-log for total coliforms and E. coli, respectively. Considering low UV efficiency obtained for helminths and the survival of protozoa and helminths in the environment, effluent quality presents risk to public health if destined for unrestricted urban reuse.

Modeling energy consumption in membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment in north Africa.

Two pilot-scale membrane bioreactors were operated alongside a full-sized activated sludge plant in Tunisia in order to compare specific energy demand and treated water quality. Energy consumption rates were measured for the complete membrane bioreactor systems and for their different components. Specific energy demand was measured for the systems and compared with the activated sludge plant, which operated at around 3 kWh m(-3). A model was developed for each membrane bioreactor based on both dynamic and steady-state mass balances, microbial kinetics and stoichiometry, and energy balance. Energy consumption was evaluated as a function of mixed-liquor suspended solids concentration, net permeate fluxes, and the resultant treated water quality. This work demonstrates the potential for using membrane bioreactors in decentralised domestic water treatment in North Africa, at energy consumption levels similar or lower than conventional activated sludge systems, with the added benefit of producing treated water suitable for unrestricted crop irrigation.

A comparison between floc morphology and the effluent clarity at a full-scale activated sludge plant using optical monitoring

A charge-coupled device camera was used for the optical monitoring of activated sludge flocs and filaments, and the image analysis results were compared with the effluent clarity at a full-scale activated sludge plant during a three-month period. The study included a maintenance stoppage at the wastewater treatment plant, which was followed by a settling problem. Thus, the study presents the development of floc morphology from poor flocculation to good flocculation. In this case, the evolution of flocs was a slow process, and the optimum floc morphology was achieved before the purification results improved. To diagnose the cause of the settling problems using optical monitoring, four major factors were found to be relevant: the mean area of the flocs, the amount of small particles, the amount of filament and the shape parameters of the flocs. In this case, the settling problem was caused by dispersed growth based on the image analysis results. In conclusion, the method used has the potential for usefulness in the development of monitoring applications to predict plant performance and also to diagnose the causes of the settling problems.

Ozonation effects for excess sludge reduction on bacterial communities composition in a full-scale activated sludge plant for domestic wastewater treatment

Activated sludge process is the most widely diffused system to treat wastewater to control the discharge of pollutants into the environment. Microorganisms are responsible for the removal of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous and other emerging contaminants. The environmental conditions of biological reactors significantly affects the ecology of the microbial community and, therefore, the performance of the treatment process.In the last years, ozone has been used to reduce excess sludge production by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), whose disposal represents one of the most relevant operational costs. The ozonation process has demonstrated to be a viable method to allow a consistent reduction in excess sludge. This study was carried out in a full-scale plant treating municipal wastewater in two parallel lines, one ozonated in the digestion tank and another used as a control. Bacterial communities of samples collected from both lines of digestion thanks were then compared to assess differences related to the ozonation treatment. Data were then analysed with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis on 16S rRNA gene. Differences between bacterial communities of both treated and untreated line appeared 2 weeks after the beginning of the treatment. Results demonstrated that ozonation treatment significantly affected the activated sludge in WWTP.

Simulation Methods of a System Dynamics Model for Efficient Operations and Planning of Capacity Expansion of Activated-sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants

In this study, simulation methods of a system dynamics model for activated-sludge wastewater treatment plants were developed. A wastewater treatment plant in South Korea was chosen for these analyses. For existing conditions, the analyses were performed by varying activated-sludge return rate to observe changes in effluent water quality and treatment efficiency. The inflow rate beyond which aeration tank size needs to be increased was calculated while satisfying the effluent water quality requirement. The corresponding sizes of aeration tank were also calculated for different activated-sludge return rates under the maximum inflow rate which does not require expansion of the aeration tank.

クリソニック&amp;reg;槽内監視センサーを活用した活性汚泥の運転管理

活性汚泥はこれまで，“曝気槽”を中心に管理されることが多かった。当社で開発したクリソニック®槽内監視センサーを“沈殿槽”に設置して測定を行なうと，得られる「監視画像」から活性汚泥で起こる主要なトラブルを検知することができる。従来の監視項目，管理指標では判らなかった状態把握が可能となり，プラントを管理する上で有用なツールとなることが，数多くの現場で実証されている。本報文では先ず，「槽内監視センサー」の概要と，このセンサーの利用するための「画像解析」の技法について紹介し，続いてこのセンサーを活用した「改善事例」2種を紹介する。1）汚泥濃縮型運転を行なうと，返送流量が絞られる結果，曝気槽での反応時間を最大にすることができ，処理の安定化に繋げることができる。沈殿槽で滞留時間を取ることで，汚泥を無酸素雰囲気下に置くことができるので，糸状性細菌による障害を抑制できるという効果も期待できる。一方，沈殿槽からの引抜汚泥濃度が上昇し，脱水機への給泥濃度が高まるので，脱水ケーキ含水率の低減に寄与することができる。脱水機の種類によっては，動力費（電力コスト）の削減も期待できる。2） 過曝気や硝化の発生が検出できる。適正な曝気を行なうことで処理を安定化させるだけでなく，水質浄化能を落とすことなく曝気動力（電力コスト）の削減も実現できる。このような取り組みは，いずれも高度な専門知識やコンサルティング技術を要求されたが，槽内監視センサーを活用すれば，現場トライアルで実行できるものであり，貴社の設備にてお役に立てれば幸いである。

Biofiltration vs conventional activated sludge plants: what about priority and emerging pollutants removal?

This paper compares the removal performances of two complete wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for all priority substances listed in the Water Framework Directive and additional compounds of interest including flame retardants, surfactants, pesticides, and personal care products (PCPs) (n = 104). First, primary treatments such as physicochemical lamellar settling (PCLS) and primary settling (PS) are compared. Similarly, biofiltration (BF) and conventional activated sludge (CAS) are then examined. Finally, the removal efficiency per unit of nitrogen removed of both WWTPs for micropollutants is discussed, as nitrogenous pollution treatment results in a special design of processes and operational conditions. For primary treatments, hydrophobic pollutants (log K ow > 4) are well removed (>70%) for both systems despite high variations of removal. PCLS allows an obvious gain of about 20% regarding pollutant removals, as a result of better suspended solids elimination and possible coagulant impact on soluble compounds. For biological treatments, variations of removal are much weaker, and the majority of pollutants are comparably removed within both systems. Hydrophobic and volatile compounds are well (>60%) or very well removed (>80%) by sorption and volatilization. Some readily biodegradable molecules are better removed by CAS, indicating a better biodegradation. A better sorption of pollutants on activated sludge could be also expected considering the differences of characteristics between a biofilm and flocs. Finally, comparison of global processes efficiency using removals of micropollutants load normalized to nitrogen shows that PCLS + BF is as efficient as PS + CAS despite a higher compactness and a shorter hydraulic retention time (HRT). Only some groups of pollutants seem better removed by PS + CAS like alkylphenols, flame retardants, or di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), thanks to better biodegradation and sorption resulting from HRT and biomass characteristics. For both processes, and out of the 68 molecules found in raw water, only half of them are still detected in the water discharged, most of the time close to their detection limit. However, some of them are detected at higher concentrations (>1μg/L and/or lower than environmental quality standards), which is problematic as they represent a threat for aquatic environment.