Evaluating the application of Microbacterium sp. strain BR1 for the removal of sulfamethoxazole in full-scale membrane bioreactors.

Microbacterium sp. strain BR1 is a bacterial strain that recently received attention for its capability to mineralize sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and other sulfonamides. In this study, the survival of Microbacterium sp. in municipal sludge waters was tested in batch experiments to explore optimal process conditions. Inoculation of Microbacterium sp. was subsequently performed in a pilot membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated in two configurations: treating full-scale MBR permeate (post-treatment) and treating raw municipal wastewater. SMX removal by Microbacterium sp. could not be proved in any of the configurations, except for SMX concentrations far higher than the ones normally found in municipal wastewater. By use of molecular tools (fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis) a low capability to survive in activated sludge systems was assessed. After inoculation, Microbacterium sp. was reduced to a small fraction of the viable biomass. The observed growth rate appeared to be many times lower than the one of typical activated sludge micro-organisms. Possibilities of application in full-scale municipal wastewater treatment are scarce.

Full-scale phosphorus recovery from digested waste water sludge in Belgium - part I: technical achievements and challenges.

To date, phosphorus recovery as struvite in wastewater treatment plants has been mainly implemented on water phases resulting from dewatering processes of the sludge line. However, it is possible to recover struvite directly from sludge phases. Besides minimising the return loads of phosphorus from the sludge line to the water line, placing such a process within the sludge line is claimed to offer advantages such as a higher recovery potential, enhanced dewaterability of the treated sludge, and reduced speed of scaling in pipes and dewatering devices. In the wastewater treatment plant at Leuven (Belgium), a full-scale struvite recovery process from digested sludge has been tested for 1 year. Several monitoring campaigns and experiments provided indications of the efficiency of the process for recovery. The load of phosphorus from the sludge line returning to the water line as centrate accounted for 15% of the P-load of the plant in the reference situation. Data indicated that the process divides this phosphorus load by two. An improved dewaterability of 1.5% of dry solids content was achieved, provided a proper tuning of the installation. Quality analyses showed that the formed struvite was quite pure.

Global sensitivity analysis of an in-sewer process model for the study of sulfide-induced corrosion of concrete.

The presence of high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in the sewer system can result in corrosion of the concrete sewer pipes. The formation and fate of hydrogen sulfide in the sewer system is governed by a complex system of biological, chemical and physical processes. Therefore, mechanistic models have been developed to describe the underlying processes. In this work, global sensitivity analysis was applied to an in-sewer process model (aqua3S) to determine the most important model input factors with regard to sulfide formation in rising mains and the concrete corrosion rate downstream of a rising main. The results of the sensitivity analysis revealed the most influential model parameters, but also the importance of the characteristics of the organic matter, the alkalinity of the concrete and the movement of the sewer gas phase.

Co-digestion of glycerine and sewage sludge to optimise green electricity production.

Sewage sludge and crude glycerine were co-digested in the mesophilic digester of Hoogstraten wastewater treatment plant. Additions of up to 1 kg of crude glycerine/(m³ reactor).(day) were done without significant operational problems. At higher dosage, severe digester foaming was observed. Methane production during co-digestion was up to 20% higher than what would be expected based on the digester input. Compared to the period before glycerine dosage, every tonne of added crude glycerine resulted in a surplus methane production of 489 Nm³. The theoretical methane production from the used crude glycerine was 341 Nm³ per tonne. The difference is explained by a higher sewage sludge degradability during co-digestion with glycerine. Glycerine dosage can remedy the lowered specific biogas yield of sewage sludge in Flanders and consequently enhance green electricity production.

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) sludge inoculation in a hybrid process scheme concept to assist overloaded conventional activated sludge (CAS) process operations.

This study analyzes the effect of inoculating membrane bioreactor (MBR) sludge in a parallel-operated overloaded conventional activated sludge (CAS) system. Modelling studies that showed the beneficial effect of this inoculation were confirmed though full scale tests. Total nitrogen (TN) removal in the CAS increased and higher nitrate formation rates were achieved. During MBR sludge inoculation, the TN removal in the CAS was proven to be dependent on MBR sludge loading. Special attention was given to the effect of inoculation on sludge quality. The MBR flocs, grown without selection pressure, were clearly distinct from the more compact flocs in the CAS system and also contained more filamentous bacteria. After inoculation the MBR flocs did not evolve into good-settling compact flocs, resulting in a decreasing sludge quality. During high flow conditions the effluent CAS contained more suspended solids. Sludge volume index, however, did not increase. Laboratory tests were held to determine the threshold volume of MBR sludge to be seeded into the CAS reactor. Above 16-30%, supernatant turbidity and scum formation increased markedly.

Removal of micropollutants in WWTP effluent by biological assisted membrane carbon filtration (BioMAC).

In the frame of the European FP6 project Neptune, a combination of biological activated carbon with ultrafiltration (BioMAC) was investigated for micropollutant, pathogen and ecotoxicity removal. One pilot scale set-up and two lab-scale set-ups, of which in one set-up the granular activated carbon (GAC) was replaced by sand, were followed up during a period of 11 months. It was found that a combination of GAC and ultrafiltration led to an almost complete removal of antibiotics and a high removal (>80%) of most of the investigated acidic pharmaceuticals and iodinated contrast media. The duration of the tests did however not allow to conclude that the biological activation was able to extend the lifetime of the GAC. Furthermore, a significant decrease in estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity could be illustrated. The set-up in which GAC was replaced by sand showed a considerably lower removal efficiency for micropollutants, especially for antibiotics but no influence on steroid activity.

Pilot-scale peroxidation (H2O2) of sewage sludge.

Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants produce large amounts of sludge. This excess sludge is an inevitable drawback inherent to the waste activated sludge process. Both the reduction of the amount of sludge produced and improving its dewaterability are of paramount importance. Novel pre-treatment processes have been developed in order to improve sludge dewatering, handling and disposal. This paper discusses the oxidation process utilising the catalytic activation of H(2)O(2) by iron salts, referred to as Fenton's reagent. In previous work, the authors described the experimental laboratory results of H(2)O(2)-oxidation of thickened sludge. Based upon the optimum conditions obtained in these laboratory tests, pilot-scale experiments are conducted. Peroxidation under its optimum conditions, i.e. (i) through addition of 25 g H(2)O(2) kg(-1) DS (dry solids content), (ii) in the presence of 1.67 g Fe(2+)-ions kg(-1) DS, (iii) at pH 3, and (iv) at ambient temperature and pressure, significantly reduces the amounts of sludge and improves the product quality: the amount DS per equivalent inhabitant per day (DS/IE.d) was reduced from 60 to 33.1 g DS/IE.d and the percentage DS of the sludge cake was 47%, which is high compared with the 20-25% achieved in a traditional sludge dewatering facility. An economic assessment for a wastewater treatment plant of 300,000 IE confirms the benefits. Considering the fixed and variable costs and the savings obtained when the sludge is incinerated after dewatering, a net saving of approx. 950,000 Euro per year or 140 Euro per ton DS can be expected.

Hot acid hydrolysis as a potential treatment of thickened sewage sludge.

Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants produce large amounts of sludge, containing organic and mineral components and being mechanically dewatered to e.g. 20-25% DS in centrifuges. Both the reduction of the amount of sludge produced and improving its dewaterability are hence of paramount importance. Hot acid hydrolysis can meet these objectives. The current paper describes the results of detailed investigations with respect to acid hydrolysis of thickened sludge (5-6% DS content). A comparison with traditional thermal hydrolysis is also included. As a result of the experimental investigations, it can be concluded that hot acid hydrolysis is efficient in both reducing the residual sludge amounts and improving the dewaterability. Under the proposed optimum conditions it is found that (i) the amount of hydrolysed DS is approximately 70% lower than the initial untreated amount, (ii) the DS-solid content of the dewatered cake is increased from 22.5% (initial untreated) to at least twice this value, (iii) the rate of mechanical dewatering is not significantly affected. The preferential release of ODS into the water phase, and the increased BOD/COD-ratio through hydrolysis, turn this recycle water phase into a possible carbon-source for nitrification/denitrification. Heavy metals and phosphates are also released in the water phase, and can be subsequently precipitated.

A mathematical stiffness matrix for characterising mechanical performance of the Orthofix DAF.

This study investigates a method for characterising the 3D support to a bone fracture site that is provided by a fracture stabilising device. The method is demonstrated with the Orthofix DAF unilateral external fixator, for which a mathematical stiffness matrix is defined using experimental measurements in six degrees of freedom. Single forces or bending moments are applied to a model fracture stabilised by the fixator, and 3D inter fragmentary displacements are measured by an instrumented spatial linkage. The 6x6 stiffness matrix for the fracture site is calculated from the product of the vector of forces and moments and the inverse of the vector of displacements. A transformation matrix is used to determine the stiffness matrix for a range of anatomical angles (between the plane of the fixator frame and the sagittal plane). Comparison between measured displacements (for an angle of 30 degrees) and the corresponding calculated displacements showed agreement to within 8%. The method enables fracture site stiffness for a fixation device to be characterised comprehensively, and its properties to be identified in comparison with other devices. It also provides the means of analysing inter fragmentary motion that may arise from physiological loading, regardless of complexity.