High Chemical Oxygen Demand Loading Research Articles

Comparative evaluation of low-cost ceramic membrane and polymeric micro membrane in algal membrane photobioreactor for wastewater treatment

Algal-bacterial membrane photobioreactor (AMPBR) is proven as a highly energy-efficient process for treating domestic wastewater. This study compared the application of polymeric micro-membrane (PMM) and a low-cost ceramic membrane (LCM) to the AMPBR process for treating domestic wastewater with low and high organic pollution levels. Experiments were conducted over 57 days using two PMM-AMPBRs and two LCM-AMPBRs, operating on a 12-h dark/light cycle in a continuous mode. Simulated wastewater containing varying levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was fed to reactors for a consistent hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 7 d and a flux rate of 100 L/m2/d. PMM and LCM-AMPBRs demonstrated efficient wastewater treatment capabilities, achieving COD removal rates exceeding 94% and 95% for high and low COD loadings, respectively. PMM-AMPBR achieved 54.1% TN removal at low COD loading, while LCM-AMPBR achieved 57.2%. These removal efficiencies decreased to 45.6% and 47.0% under high COD loading. Total Phosphorus (TP) removal reached 29–33% for PMM-AMPBRs and 21–24% for LCM-AMPBRs, irrespective of COD loading. LCM-AMPBRs showed significantly lower fouling frequency than PMM-AMPBRs. The biomass production rate decreased with increasing COD loading and achieved 40 mg/L/d at low COD loading for both AMPBRs. Net energy return (NER) values for both AMPBRs were close to 0.87, indicating them as energy-efficient processes. Considering the cost-effectiveness and comparable performance, LCM-AMPBR could be a viable alternative to PMM-AMPBR for wastewater treatment, particularly under low COD loading conditions.

Comparative analysis in the performances of four in‐ground lagoon anaerobic digesters treating palm oil mill effluent (POME)

AbstractWhile palm oil mill effluent (POME) from different sources will have varying characteristics due to the different process flows in mills, efficient monitoring and performance evaluation of anaerobic digesters in POME treatment are crucial to ensure stable biogas production with minimal operational problems. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate and compare the performances of in‐ground lagoon anaerobic digesters under mesophilic conditions in four different biogas plants (BGPs A, B, C and D) located in Malaysia with respect to total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and total biogas produced. Results show that all BGPs are still functioning well with satisfactory methane yields (.135–.364 Nm3 CH4/kgCOD removed) and COD removal efficiencies (67%–85%). ANOVA analysis shows that organic loading rate (OLR), temperature (T) and recirculation ratio (RR) have significant effects on the COD removal and biogas production of all four plants. BGP B has the highest amount of biogas produced (4.12 × 105 Nm3/month) and COD removal rate amongst other BGPs due to its most stable and lowest T (<40°C), high RR, and consistent and high COD load. Conversely, BGP D has the lowest COD removal and biogas production, which are mainly contributed by a high COD inlet (92 000 mg/L) and a high T in the anaerobic digester (48.7°C). Despite having a similar design of an anaerobic digester, this comparative study reveals that different BGPs will have different optimum operating conditions and limitations, depending not only on the operating conditions of the BGP (OLR, T and RR) but also on the raw POME quality stemming from the palm oil milling process. A future study would be focused on the optimisation of four BGPs for maximum biogas removal.

High biogas evolution of distillery wastewater under potassium toxicity in a three-stage upflow anaerobic sludge blanket

This investigation aimed to enhance the methanogenic activity of distillery wastewater containing high potassium (K) content in a mesophilic three-stage upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). The three-stage UASB could not function at a chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate greater than 3 kg/m3d due to the K toxicity, causing system failure. The K concentration in the distillery wastewater was 9000–10,000 mg/L, close to the severe inhibitory range for anaerobes (> 12,000 mg/L). Hence, the wastewater was diluted to reach moderate K toxicity. Surprisingly, the three-stage UASB could function effectively, providing high optimum and maximum COD loading rates (20 and 40 kg/m3d, respectively). This was because the three-stage UASB was regulated under a slow stepwise increase in the COD loading rate to achieve fully adapted anaerobe communities for each COD loading rate. This then led to the high ability to withstand the moderate inhibition of K via the successive development of sludge granules.

Effects of aeration on/off times and hydraulic retention times in an intermittently aerated membrane bioreactor

Intermittently aerated membrane bioreactor is a process that combines an intermittently aerated bioreactor with a membrane. A membrane bioreactor can achieve complete separation between solids and liquids, and improve nitrogen removal because the reactor contains bacteria relevant to nitrifying and denitrifying. This paper is an investigation into removal efficiencies on two operation factors (aeration on/off times and hydraulic retention times (HRTs)). Permeate concentrations of T-N and T-P in 60 min-on/60 min-off were 19.6 and 4.41 mg/L, respectively, and permeate concentrations of T-N and T-P in 30 min-on/30 min-off were 22.7 and 4.56 mg/L, respectively. Accordingly, we found that 60 min-on/60 min-off was superior to 30 min-on/30 min-off. This was due to the high mixed liquid suspended solid concentration and the sufficient aerobic/anoxic time for the reaction. In the experiments with HRTs of 6, 9, and 12 h, the removal efficiency of organic matter was above 90% under all conditions. However, the HRT of 6 h was the best condition for removal efficiencies of T-N and T-P, due to high chemical oxygen demand loading rates per unit time of the influent.

생물학적 막분리 공정에서 수동흡착 상태에서의 유기물 유입 부하에 따른 소수성 막의 오염도 분석

This paper investigated the membrane fouling potential at the state of passive adsorption which is no permeation with the test modules on COD (Chemical oxygen demand) loading rates, examined the recovery rate and resistance on membrane fouling by three cleaning manners of hydrophobic membrane in a bioreactor. The results showed that high COD loading led to the increase of extra-cellular polymeric substances and filtration resistance. The permeability resistance from 1st day to 63rd day was getting increased, however, the value of permeability resistance after 63th day during the operation period was almost same level at three COD loading rates, it was due that the biomass adhesion on membrane surface at the state of passive adsorption reached to the critical state. Also, the final recovery rates after three cleaning manners were 78%, 72% and 69% at the COD loading concentrations of 250 mg/L, 500 mg/L and 750 mg/L respectively, and then recovery rate by physical cleaning at Run 2 and Run 3 was decreased after 40th day, it proved that biomass cake, which is not easily removed, was formed on the membrane surface because of high COD loading rate and EPS concentration.

Roughness and temperature effects on the filter media of a trickling filter for nitrification

The performance of trickling filters using two types of plastic media with the same material, the same shape and different roughness was evaluated during a temperature-decreasing period to understand the roughness and temperature effects on the filter media. Real restaurant wastewater was used for the experiments. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and nitrification performance of plastic media with a rough surface (LT-15) was superior to that with a smooth surface (KT-15). Because the biomass of microorganisms attached on the LT-15 was twice that attached on the KT-15, the larger biomass attached on the LT-15 was thought to be responsible for the higher performance. During the operation, the COD loading and water temperature varied in the range from 0.37 to 1.9 kg m −3 d −1 and 17.0−10.0°C, respectively. However, the COD removal performance was not dependent on the COD loading or water temperature. On the contrary, the COD loading and the water temperature influenced the nitrification performance. Although a nitrification efficiency of 100% was recorded at a COD loading of 0.37 kg m −3 d −1, it deteriorated to 17–28% at higher COD loading. Moreover, a decline in the water temperature decreased the nitrification performance. The temperature-activity coefficient for nitrification was estimated to be 1.096. Based on this value, it was inferred that the COD loading should be set at less than 0.20 kg m −3 d −1 for the complete nitrification of the restaurant wastewater in winter, when the water temperature usually drops to around 10°C.

Electroflotation clarifier to enhance nitrogen removal in a two-stage alternating aeration bioreactor

Stringent water treatment criteria and rapidly growing pollutant loads provoke the demand for retrofitting wastewater treatment plants towards a higher capacity. In this study, we assess a two stage alternating aeration (AA) bioreactor equipped with electroflotation (EF) clarifier, for nitrogen removal within a short hydraulic reTENTion time (HRT). The EF under steady solids loading required a minimum unit height and gas:solids ratio of 0.006 for efficient clarification. The separated sludge blanket was further thickened with retaining stability when the cyclic solids loading was smaller than 1.0 kg m−2. In the continuous operation of the bioreactor, the returned activated sludge concentration increased to more than 18,000 mg L−1, while the effluent suspended solids concentration was lowered below 5 mg L−1. Under influent chemical oxygen demand (COD)/total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) concentration of 300/30 mg L−1, the TIN removal efficiency was near 70% with cycle time ratios of 0.17 and 0.27. Under higher influent COD concentration of 500 mg L−1, TIN removal efficiency was found to be 73.4% at a carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 10 and even higher (80.4%) at a C:N ratio of 16.6. The increased mixed liquor suspended solids concentrations (>6000 mg L−1) under the high COD loading were efficiently maintained by using the EF clarifier. The results of this study demonstrate that an EF clarifier with a HRT of less than 1 h can support reliable nitrogen removal in the AA process that has a HRT of 6 h, even under increasing influent loadings.

Environmentally safe treatment of black liquor with Comamonas sp. B‐9 under high‐alkaline conditions

The strain Comamonas sp. B-9 was isolated from steeping fluid of erosive bamboo slips derived from Kingdom Wu during the Three-Kingdoms Dynasty of ancient China (A.D. 220-280). It could be used to treat black liquor (BL) with high-alkaline pH and with an initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 18,000-25,000 mg L(-1) , without the addition of other carbon and nitrogen sources. The results revealed that Comamonas sp. B-9 was capable of reducing the COD, color, and lignin content of BL by up to 56.8, 35.3, and 43.5%, respectively. High levels of laccase, manganese peroxidase, cellulase, and xylanase enzymatic activities were also observed, and these enzymes could play an important role in the biotreatment of BL. Further, GC-MS analysis showed that most of the compounds detected in BL after biotreatment with Comamonas sp. B-9 were diminished, while 4-methyl benzaldehyde, 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy benzaldehyde were produced as metabolites. The presented results indicate that Comamonas sp. B-9 has potential application for the treatment of wastewaters from pulp and paper processing with high COD load under high-alkaline conditions.

Constructed wetlands and sand filter applied as onsite post-treatment of anaerobic effluent

This paper evaluates constructed wetlands and sand filter technologies applied as onsite post-treatment of anaerobic effluent, under environmental conditions of Southern Brazil. Three different onsite systems were evaluated, as follow: onsite system 1 (septic tank – ST followed by horizontal flow constructed wetlands – HFCW) with five years operation; onsite system 2 (ST followed by sand filter – SF) with three years operation and onsite system 3 (anaerobic pond – AP followed by vertical flow constructed wetland – VFCW) with one year operation. HFCW shows an average potential removal of 82, 84, 16, 50 and 90% of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), NH4+-N, PO43−-P and SS, respectively. Clogging phenomena occurred in the HFCW after three years operations with an average of 11 gSS m−2 d−1 loading rate applied. SF shows an average potential removal of 83, 88, 73, 76 and 88% of COD, BOD, NH4+-N, PO43−-P and SS, respectively. VFCH shows an average potential removal of 72, 80, and 71% of COD, NH4+-N, and SS, respectively, and also a very good nitrification (25 mgNO3−-N L−1 in the treated effluent) considering the high average COD loading rate (41 gCOD m−2 d−1) and average SS loading rate (15 gSS m−2 d−1) applied.

Dominance of yeast in activated sludge under acidic pH and high organic loading

Flow cytometry-fluorescent in situ hybridization (FC-FISH) was used to investigate the effect of controlled pH and/or varied organic loading on the content of yeast and bacterial cells in an activated sludge system (AS) individually operating in continuous and batch mode for treatment of high-strength industrial wastewater. Specifically, we attempted to develop a yeast-predominant activated sludge system (Y-AS). For the batch-mode AS, bacteria-dominated AS (B-AS) obtained at pH 6.5–7.5 induced higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal than Y-AS obtained at acidic pH (5.0–6.0 and 4.0–5.0). For the continuous-mode AS operating at COD loadings of 2.5–2.8 kg COD m −3 d −1, it was difficult to achieve a Y-AS solely by controlling the pH level at 7.0 to 5.1 then to 4.1 because bacteria stably accounted for greater than 98% of the total cells, regardless of the pH levels. Therefore, the effects of varied COD loadings (2.1, 8.7 and 21.0 kg COD m −3 d −1) on continuous-mode AS operation at acidic pH (4.5) was investigated. Both acidic pH and high COD loading levels were found to be prerequisites for yeast to dominate the sludge microbial community in the continuous-mode AS.

Effect of Oxygen Partial Pressure and Chemical Oxygen Demand Loading on the Biofilm Properties in Membrane-Aerated Bioreactors

Membrane-aerated biofilms with oxygen and nutrients diffusing from the opposite sides possess distinct properties, including the ability to couple aerobic and anaerobic processes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of oxygen partial pressure and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading on biofilm properties. Two laboratory-scale membrane-aerated bioreactors were operated for a total of 283 days, with one reactor operated at 42, 60, and 89 kPa (0.41, 0.59, and 0.88 atm) oxygen, and the other reactor at 25 kPa (0.25 atm) oxygen (air control). The biofilm detached at the oxygen partial pressures of 60 and 89 kPa (0.59 and 0.88 atm) at a COD loading of 11.3 kg COD/1000 m2/d, but was sustained at the oxygen partial pressures of 25 and 42 kPa (0.25 and 0.41 atm), with a porous structure at the membrane interface at the COD loading of 11.3 kg COD/1000 m2/d. Biofilm formation was improved at a higher COD loading. It is proposed that the loss of extracellular polymeric substances at the biofilm bottom is the cause for the biofilm detachment subjected to a higher oxygen partial pressure.

Seasonal influence on sulfate reduction and zinc sequestration in subsurface treatment wetlands

To characterize the effects of season, temperature, plant species, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading on sulfate reduction and metals removal in treatment wetlands we measured pore water redox potentials and concentrations of sulfate, sulfide, zinc and COD in subsurface wetland microcosms. Two batch incubations of 20 day duration were conducted in each of four seasons defined by temperature and daylight duration. Four treatments were compared: unplanted controls, Typha latifolia (broadleaf cattail), and Schoenoplectus acutus (hardstem bulrush), all at low COD loading (267 mg/L), plus bulrush at high COD loading (534 mg/L). Initial SO 4-S and zinc concentrations were 67 and 24 mg/L, respectively. For all treatments, sulfate removal was least in winter (4 °C, plant dormancy) greatest in summer (24 °C, active plant growth) and intermediate in spring and fall (14 °C), but seasonal variation was greater in cattail, and especially, bulrush treatments. Redox measurements indicated that, in winter, plant-mediated oxygen transfer inhibited activity of sulfate reducing bacteria, exacerbating the reduction in sulfate removal due to temperature. Doubling the COD load in bulrush treatments increased sulfate removal by only 20–30% when averaged over all seasons and did not alter the basic pattern of seasonal variation, despite tempering the wintertime increase in redox potential. Seasonal and treatment effects on zinc removal were broadly consistent with sulfate removal and presumably reflected zinc-sulfide precipitation. Results strongly suggest that interactive effects of COD loading rate, temperature, season, and plant species control not only sulfate reduction and zinc sequestration, but also the balance of competition between various microbial consortia responsible for water treatment in constructed wetlands.

Treatment of pesticide wastewater by moving-bed biofilm reactor combined with Fenton-coagulation pretreatment

In order to treat pesticide wastewater having high chemical oxygen demand (COD) value and poor biodegradability, Fenton-coagulation process was first used to reduce COD and improve biodegradability and then was followed by biological treatment. Optimal experimental conditions for the Fenton process were determined to be Fe 2+ concentration of 40 mmol/L and H 2O 2 dose of 97 mmol/L at initial pH 3. The interaction mechanism of organophosphorous pesticide and hydroxyl radicals was suggested to be the breakage of the P S double bond and formation of sulfate ions and various organic intermediates, followed by formation of phosphate and consequent oxidation of intermediates. For the subsequent biological treatment, 3.2 g/L Ca(OH) 2 was added to adjust the pH and further coagulate the pollutants. The COD value could be evidently decreased from 33,700 to 9300 mg/L and the ratio of biological oxygen demand (BOD 5) to COD of the wastewater was enhanced to over 0.47 by Fenton oxidation and coagulation. The pre-treated wastewater was then subjected to biological oxidation by using moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) inside which tube chip type bio-carriers were fluidized upon air bubbling. Higher than 85% of COD removal efficiency could be achieved when the bio-carrier volume fraction was kept more than 20% by feeding the pretreated wastewater containing 3000 mg/L of inlet COD at one day of hydraulic retention time (HRT), but a noticeable decrease in the COD removal efficiency when the carrier volume was decreased down to 10%, only 72% was observed. With the improvement of biodegradability by using Fenton pretreatment, also due to the high concentration of biomass and high biofilm activity using the fluidizing bio-carriers, high removal efficiency and stable operation could be achieved in the biological process even at a high COD loading of 37.5 gCOD/(m 2 carrier day).

Formation of Aerobic Granules with Domestic Sewage

The use of aerobic granules in wastewater treatment can reduce the land area that is needed for the treatment of sewage. Until now granulation has been mainly studied using artificial wastewater. Studying the possibility of forming aerobic granules on domestic sewage in a sequencing batch reactor was a logical step in the scaling-up process and development of this technology. Therefore, aerobic granulation was studied using presettled sewage as influent. After 20 days of operation at high chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading heterogeneous aerobic granular structures were observed, with a sludge volume index after 10 min settling of 38 mL g−1 and an average diameter of 1.1 mm . Applying a high COD load was found to be a critical factor for the formation of aerobic granules on this type of influent. Therefore short cycle times and concentrated wastewater are preferred to form granules in a sequencing batch reactor when low strength wastewater is used. The nutrient removal was not optimized in this study.

Application of Anaerobic and Aerobic Activated Sludge to Phosphorus-Deficient Wastewater Treatment

Anaerobic and aerobic (AnA) and completely aerobic (CA) sequencing-batch reactors (SBRs) were used to investigate the suitability of the AnA process for treating phosphorus (P)-deficient wastewaters with highly variable influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading. Both SBRs were subjected to influent COD loading patterns (LPs) that simulated (1) daily COD loading fluctuations, (2) weekend shutdowns, and (3) long weekend or holiday shutdowns. During LP 1, the AnA SBR produced lower average effluent soluble phosphorus concentrations than CA SBR (0.4 vs. 1.0 mgP/L). A similar result was observed during LP 2, but effluent acetate was detected after the first high COD loading cycle of the weekday loading period. During LP 3, the volatile suspended solids content of both reactors dropped sharply, and the effluent quality of both SBRs deteriorated. Model predictions suggest that the AnA process is stable when treating LP 1, but eventually fails when treating LP 2.

Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on sludge settleability.

This laboratory study presents a detailed evaluation of the effects of dissolved oxygen concentration and accumulation of storage polymers on sludge settleability in activated sludge systems with an aerobic selector. The oxygen and substrate availability regime were simulated in laboratory sequencing batch reactor systems. The experiments showed that low dissolved oxygen concentration (< or =1.1 mg O2 l(-1)) had a strong negative effect on sludge settleability, leading to the proliferation of filamentous bacteria (Thiothrix spp., Type 021N and Type 1851). This negative effect was stronger at high chemical oxygen demand loading rate. This indicates that a compartmentalised (plug flow) aerobic contact tank, designed at short hydraulic residence time to guarantee a strong substrate gradient, with low dissolved oxygen concentration, might be worse for sludge settleability than an "overdesigned" completely mixed contact tank. Contrary to the general hypothesis, the maximum specific acetate uptake rate, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate production rate, and resistance to short starvation periods are similar in both poor- and well-settling sludge. The results of this study support our previous hypothesis on the importance of substrate gradients for the development of filamentous structures in biological flocs, from soluble organic substrate gradients to dissolved oxygen gradients in sludge flocs.

Properties of anaerobic granular sludge as affected by yeast extract, cobalt and iron supplements

The effect of yeast extract (YE), iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) on anaerobic bacterial granules grown in eight laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors was investigated using a factorial design. The experiment was performed in three periods in which different chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rates were applied to the reactors. The COD digestion rate and the specific activity of the bacteria were positively affected by supplementation of Fe and Co in the feed under a high COD loading rate. YE had a strong positive effect on the bacterial growth rate, but no significant effect on the specific activity of the bacteria. With Fe supplementation, an excellent COD digestion rate was maintained in the reactors, and addition of YE in the feed was not necessary. Granules with better settling properties were developed under a relatively low bacterial growth rate. With the increase in COD loading rate, the percentage of calcium increased rapidly in the granules from the reactors without YE supplementation. The bacteria grown under high COD loading rate and without an Fe supplement could be Fe-deficient. Methanothrix-like rod-shaped bacteria were dominant in the granules from all reactors.

The Anaerobic Biodegradation of a Bagasse‐Based Paper‐Mill Waste in Fixed‐Film Reactor

AbstractThe high concentration of biodegradable constituents in waste‐water derived from bagasse‐based paper mills warrants the consideration of an anaerobic biotechnology process to recover biogas and reduce the pollution load. An anaerobic down‐flow fixed‐film bark reactor process was studied to treat waste‐water generated from bagasse‐based paper mills. At the anaerobic stage, 90–95% of the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed at loading rates of 3–18 kg COD m%−3 day%−1 without supplying any nutrients or trace elements. A yield coefficient of 0.156 g cells (g COD) %−1 was calculated at a high COD loading rate of 18 kg COD m%−3 day%−1. With the anaerobic treatment process it is estimated that 1 m3 of bagasse waste‐water with a COD content of 13000 mg dm%−3 can produce about 3.5 m3 of methane. Intermittent checks on the system alkalinity revealed that feed neutralization to maintain alkalinity would be necessary with sodium bicarbonate at approximately 2500 mg dm%−3 for achieving steady‐state high treatment efficiency.

Effect of Biofilm Accumulation on Colloid Cohesion

Methanogenic, fluidized-bed biofilm reactors having a granular activated carbon (GAC) medium are fed continuously with milk colloids. Steady state results for increasing loads of chemical oxygen demand (COD) show that the removal efficiency for influent colloids increased as the amount of attached biofilm increased due to the higher COD loading. Short-term filtration experiments using small-scale, once-through columns are used to assess the cohesion efficiency (α\N) for GAC samples taken from the biofilm reactor. GAC with the highest amount of biomass, 1.74 mg cellular carbohydrate per gram of dry carbon, has a much higher cohesion coefficient (α\N = 0.90 on average) than does GAC with no biomass (α\N = 0.00) and GAC with 0.134 mg cellular carbohydrate per gram of dry carbon (α\N = 0.21). Thus, the increased accumulation of biofilm dramatically improves the cohesion of the milk colloids.