ABSTRACT
Anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS), a self-immobilized aggregate containing various functional microorganisms, is considered as a promising green process for wastewater treatment. AnGS has the advantages of high volume loading rate, simple process and low excess sludge generation, thus shows great technological and economical potentials. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances of the microbial community structure and function of anaerobic granular sludge, and discusses the factors affecting the formation and stability of anaerobic granular sludge from the perspective of microbiology. Moreover, future research directions of AnGS are prospected. This review is expected to facilitate the research and engineering application of AnGS.
Subject(s)
Sewage/chemistry , Waste Disposal, Fluid , Anaerobiosis , Microbiota , Water Purification , Bioreactors/microbiologyABSTRACT
RESUMO Diversos trabalhos têm mostrado a formação de lodo granular aeróbio em reatores nos quais são impostas elevadas velocidades de sedimentação, da ordem de 10 a 12 m.h−1. Aparentemente, quando a velocidade de sedimentação é inferior a 3,8 m.h−1, a fração de lodo floculado é predominante, visto que o lodo suspenso não é eliminado de forma efetiva do reator. Outros estudos, entretanto, mostram a formação de lodos granulares aeróbios para velocidades menores que essa, apontando a possibilidade da formação desse tipo de biomassa em velocidades ainda menores. Assim, este trabalho avaliou a formação desse tipo de lodo em reatores que tratam esgoto sanitário, com relação altura/diâmetro unitária, para velocidades de sedimentação de 1,8 e 1,2 m.h−1, verificando as eficiências de remoção de matéria orgânica e nitrogênio. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que é possível formar lodo aeróbio granular para a faixa de velocidade de estudo, porém com baixa estabilidade estrutural para diâmetros de 1,2 mm ou mais. Essa instabilidade dos grânulos contribui para a baixa eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica e nitrogênio nos reatores.
ABSTRACT Several studies have shown the formation of aerobic granular sludge in reactors where high sedimentation rates are imposed, varying from 10 to 12 m.h−1. Apparently, when the settling velocity is less than 3.8 m.h−1, the fraction of flocculated sludge is predominant, since the suspended sludge is not effectively eliminated from the reactor. Other studies, however, show the formation of aerobic granular sludge at velocities lower than this, pointing to the possibility of formation of this type of biomass at even lower speeds. Thus, this work evaluated the efficacy of this type of sludge in reactors treating sewage, with H/D ratio (height/diameter), for sedimentation velocities of 1.8 and 1.2 mh−1, verifying the efficiencies of organic matter and nitrogen. The results indicated that it is possible to form aerobic granular sludge for the study velocity range, but with low structural stability from diameters of approximately 1.2 mm. This instability of the granules contributes to the low efficiency of removal of organic matter and nitrogen in the reactors.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO Considerado por muitos profissionais como um dos maiores avanços do século 21 na área de tratamento de esgotos, os reatores de lodo granular aeróbio (LGA) vêm recebendo bastante atenção em termos de pesquisa e instalação em escala plena em diferentes continentes e condições climáticas. São frequentes os relatos na literatura de eficiências de remoção acima de 90% em termos de demanda química de oxigênio, nitrogênio total e fósforo total, além da manutenção no reator de elevadas concentrações de sólidos (> 8 g SSV/L) sem a necessidade de decantador secundário e recirculação de lodo. Contudo, há também diversos relatos de problemas de instabilidade da biomassa, longo período de formação dos grânulos (principalmente quando se utiliza esgoto real), formação de grânulos pequenos, acúmulo de nitrito e outras questões. Esta revisão explora os mecanismos necessários para granulação em estações de tratamento de esgoto em escala plena no tratamento de esgoto sanitário, incluindo os principais grupos microbianos presentes no LGA, parâmetros-chave para a formação dos grânulos, configurações de reator etc. Além disso, discutem-se algumas questões sobre a operação e a manutenção desses sistemas em escala plena.
ABSTRACT Considered by many professionals as one of the greatest advances in wastewater treatment in the 21st century, the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactors have received great attention in terms of research and full-scale installation in different continents and weather conditions. There are frequent reports in the literature on removal efficiencies above 90% in terms of COD, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, as well as the maintenance of high solids concentrations (> 8 g VSS/L) in the reactor without the need for secondary clarifier and sludge recirculation. However, there are also several reports on problems of biomass instability, long periods of granule formation (mainly when using real sewage), formation of small granules, nitrite accumulation (incomplete denitrification), and other issues. This review explores the mechanisms required for granulation in full-scale WWTP treating sanitary wastewater, including the main microbial groups present in the AGS, key granule formation parameters, reactor configurations, etc. In addition, some issues on the operation and maintenance of these full-scale systems are discussed.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO Este trabalho teve por objetivo produzir lodo granular aeróbio num reator em batelada sequencial não tubular, uma geometria diferente da usualmente utilizada nesses sistemas. Este reator foi inoculado com lodo ativado proveniente de uma estação de tratamento de esgoto municipal. O reator foi operado com ciclos de seis horas, com cinco horas de reação totalmente aeróbia. O efluente simulado continha um derivado de amido usado na indústria têxtil. A indução da granulação foi conseguida por meio da redução gradual do tempo de sedimentação, verificando-se que este é um parâmetro crítico do sistema. Após estabilização, com um tempo de sedimentação de 3 minutos, obteve-se um índice volumétrico de lodo de 25 mL.gSST-1, uma concentração de biomassa de 7 gSST.L-1 e uma eficiência de remoção da demanda química de oxigênio de 88%. Os grânulos obtidos foram armazenados úmidos durante 7 meses, a 4 e 25ºC, obtendo-se resultados excecionais na repartida dos reatores, com rápida recuperação das suas características de sedimentação, taxa de crescimento, estrutura e integridade granulares.
ABSTRACT This study aimed to produce aerobic granular sludge in a non-tubular sequencing batch reactor, which is an unusual geometry in these systems. This reactor was inoculated with activated sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The reactor was operated in cycles of six hours, with five hours of fully aerobic reaction. The simulated wastewater contained a starch derivative used in the textile industry. Granulation was induced by gradually reducing the settling time; therefore, this is a critical parameter of the system. After stabilization, with a sedimentation time of 3 minutes, a Sludge Volume Index after 30 minutes of settling of 25 mL.gSST-1, a biomass concentration of 7 gTSS.L-1 and a Chemical Oxygen Demand removal of 88% were obtained. The granules were stored wet for 7 months at 4 and 25ºC, yielding exceptional results in the re-start of the reactor, with rapid recovery of their sedimentation characteristics, growth rate, and granular structure and integrity.
ABSTRACT
Fixed film processes and activated sludge processes are two main families of wastewater treatment systems which all refer to the heterogeneous microbial communities. Meanwhile, biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) and biofouling in membrane systems are significant problems in the water and wastewater treatment which reduce the microbial quality of drinking water and limit the development of membrane system respectively. Since biofilms and quorum sensing (QS) as two microbial social behaviors have been inextricably linked, a number of studies have focused on the role of QS signaling and QS inhibition in the processes of water and wastewater treatment, which will help us engineer these biological treatment processes successfully and develop promising approaches for control of microbial adhesion, colonization and biofilm formation. This review gives a summary of recent known QS mechanisms and their role in biofilm formation for different species. Particular attentions are dedicated to the signaling molecules involved in some microbial granulation processes and the potential applications by some of their natural and synthetic analogues in the treatment of membrane biofouling.
ABSTRACT
In this study, two adverse environments: low dissolved oxygen (DO) and high ammonia concentration, were employed to investigate the morphology, interspecies quorum sensing, extracellular polymers (EPS) characterization and microbial communities in the formation of aerobic granular sludge. Results showed that low DO could promote filamentous bacterial outgrowth. Under high ammonia concentration aerobic granular sludge (AGS) could still be cultivated, although it was looser and lighter than the control group. During the early stage of the AGS cultivation process, AI-2 activity reached a peak value in all three reactors, and ultrasonic pre-treatment was not beneficial to the release of AI-2. During AGS formation, the production of polysaccharide exhibited increases from 12.2 % to 40.3 %, 49.6 %, and 29.3 %. And PS in R2 was the highest as the result of sludge bulking. PS/PN was 1.5~8 in the three reactors. Three-dimensional EEM fuorescence spectroscopy variation indicated the change of protein in EPS, and the highest intensity of Peak T1 was obtained. The location shift of Peak T1 was not obvious, and Peaks A, C, and T2 shifted toward longer wavelengths (red shift) of 5~60 nm, or shorter wavelengths (blue shift) of 10~25 nm on the emission scale and / or excitation scale in all three reactors. This provided spectral information on the chemical structure changes. Bacteria in R3 had the highest species diversity, and all bacteria in b-Proteobacteria were identified as genus Thauera, which suggested that simultaneous nitrification and denitrification occurred in R3. The filamentous bacteria in seed sludge and R2 were species-richer. There was a low abundance of filamentous bacteria in R1 and R3, which contributed to the granule structure stability.
ABSTRACT
Kinetics of municipal sewage degradation in Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) and Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors at 10℃ were investigated via continuous experimental equipments. The results indicated that the whole reaction process can be simulated by the first-order dynamic equation model. Dynamic parameters such as k, Vmax and Ks of UASB in hydrolysis acidification stage were 1.08 d-1, 2.8 d-1 and 372 mg/L comparing to those of 1.18 d-1, 3.5 d-1 and 112 mg/L in the methanogenesis stage respectively. The EGSB's k, Vmax and Ks were 2.91 d-1, 14.3 d-1 and 470 mg/L in the hydrolysis acidification stage comparing to those of 1.68 d-1, 6.6 d-1 and 103 mg/L in the methanogenesis stage respectively. Comparison of k values of the two stages in UASB and EGSB indicates that hydrolysis acidification stage is the controlling step for the whole reaction process of UASB, while methanogenesis stage is the controlling step in EGSB. Compared with UASB, municipal sewage treatment by EGSB at 10 ℃ can reach the same effluent requirement with lower retention time due to its effluent recirculation.
ABSTRACT
Kinetics of municipal sewage degradation in Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) and Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors at 10°C were investigated via continuous experimental equipments. The results indicated that the whole reaction process can be simulated by the first-order dynamic equation model. Dynamic parameters such as k, Vmax and Ks of UASB in hydrolysis acidification stage were 1.08 d-1, 2.8 d-1 and 372 mg/L comparing to those of 1.18 d-1, 3.5 d-1 and 112 mg/L in the methanogenesis stage respectively. The EGSB's k, Vmax and Ks were 2.91 d-1, 14.3 d-1 and 470 mg/L in the hydrolysis acidification stage comparing to those of 1.68 d-1, 6.6 d-1 and 103 mg/L in the methanogenesis stage respectively. Comparison of k values of the two stages in UASB and EGSB indicates that hydrolysis acidification stage is the controlling step for the whole reaction process of UASB, while methanogenesis stage is the controlling step in EGSB. Compared with UASB, municipal sewage treatment by EGSB at 10°C can reach the same effluent requirement with lower retention time due to its effluent recirculation.