Effects of temperature on nitrifying membrane-aerated biofilms: An experimental and modeling study.

Temperature is known to have an important effect on the morphology and removal fluxes of conventional, co-diffusional biofilms. However, much less is known about the effects of temperature on membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs). Experiments and modeling were used to determine the effects of temperature on the removal fluxes, biofilm thickness and morphology, and biofilm microbial community structure of nitrifying MABRs. Steady state tests were carried out at 10 °C and 30 °C. MABRs grown at 30 °C had higher ammonium removal fluxes (5.5 ± 0.9 g-N/m2/day at 20 mgN/L) than those grown at 10 °C (3.4 ± 0.2 g-N/m2/day at 20 mgN/L). The 30 °C biofilms were thinner and rougher, with a lower protein to polysaccharides ratio (PN/PS) in their extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix and greater amounts of biofilm detachment. Based on fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), there was a higher relative abundance of nitrifying bacteria at 30 °C than at 10 °C, and the ratio of AOB to total nitrifiers (AOB + NOB) was higher at 30 °C (95.1 ± 2.3%) than at 10 °C (77.2 ± 8.6 %). Anammox bacteria were more abundant at 30 °C (16.6 ± 3.7 %) than at 10 °C (6.5 ± 2.4 %). Modeling suggested that higher temperatures increase ammonium oxidation fluxes when the biofilm is limited by ammonium. However, fluxes decrease when oxygen becomes limited, i.e., when the bulk ammonium concentrations are high, due to decreased oxygen solubility. Consistent with the experimental results, the model predicted that the percentage of AOB to total nitrifiers at 30 °C was higher than at 10 °C. To investigate the effects of temperature on biofilm diffusivity and O2 solubility, without longer-term changes in the microbial community, MABR biofilms were grown to steady state at 20 °C, then the temperature changed to 10 °C or 30 °C overnight. Higher ammonium oxidation fluxes were obtained at higher temperatures: 1.91 ± 0.24 g-N/m2/day at 10 °C and 3.19 ± 0.40 g-N/m2/day at 30 °C. Overall, this work provides detailed insights into the effect of temperature on nitrifying MABRs, which can be used to better understand MABR behavior and manage MABR reactors.

Unique stratification of biofilm density in heterotrophic membrane-aerated biofilms: An experimental and modeling study.

We consistently find a band of high cell density develop within heterotrophic membrane-aerated biofilms. This study reports and attempts to explain this unique behavior. Biofilm density affects volumetric reaction rates, biofilm growth rates, substrate diffusion, and mechanical behavior. Yet the mechanisms and dynamics of biofilm density development are poorly understood. In this study, a membrane-aerated biofilm, where O2 was supplied from the base of the biofilm and acetate from the bulk liquid, was used to explore spatial and temporal patterns of density development. Biofilm density was assessed by optical coherence tomography. After inoculation, the biofilm quickly increased in thickness, with a low density throughout. However, as the biofilm reached a stable thickness of around 1000 µm, a high-density layer developed in the biofilm interior. The layer slowly expanded over time. Oxygen microprofiles in the biofilm showed this layer coincided with the most metabolically active zone, resulting from counter-diffusing O2 and acetate. The formation of this dense layer appeared to be related to changes in growth rates. Initially, high growth rates throughout the biofilm presumably led to fast-growing, low-density biofilms. As the biofilm became thicker, and as substrates became limiting in the biofilm interior, growth rates decreased, resulting in new growth at a higher density. A 1-D mathematical model with variable biofilm density was developed by linking the rates of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production to the growth rate. The model captured the initial fast growth at a low density, followed by a slower, substrate-limited growth in the biofilm interior, producing a dense band within the biofilm. Together, these results suggest that low growth rates can lead to high-density zones within the interior of counter-diffusional biofilms. These findings should also be relevant to conventional, co-diffusional biofilms, although differences in density may be less obvious.

Unique biofilm structure and mass transfer mechanisms in the foam aerated biofilm reactor (FABR).

The foam-aerated biofilm reactor (FABR) is a novel biofilm process that can simultaneously remove carbon and nitrogen from wastewater. A porous polyurethane foam sheet forms an interface between wastewater and aerated water, making it a counter-diffusional biofilm process similar to the membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR). However, it is not clear how biofilm develops the foam interior, and how this impacts mass transfer and performance. This research explored biofilm development within the foam sheet and determined whether advective transport within the sheet played a significant role. Foam sheets with 2-, 4.5- and 9-mm thicknesses were explored. Oxygen, nitrate, nitrite and ammonia profiles in the sheet were measured using microsensors, and biofilm imaging studies were carried out using optical coherence tomography (OCT). On the foam's aerated side, a dense nitrifying biofilm formed. Beyond the aerobic zone, much less biomass was observed, with a high porosity foam-biofilm layer. The higher effective diffusivity within the foam for the 4- and 9-mm sheets suggested advective transport within the foam channel structures. Using an effective diffusivity factor in conventional 1-D biofilm models reproduced the measured substrate concentration profiles within the foam. Four different practical conditions were modelled. The maximum TN removal efficiency was about 70% and a nitrogen removal flux of 1.25 gN.m-2.d-1. We conclude that mass transfer resistance occurred primarily in the dense, nitrifying layer near the aerated side. The rest of the foam sheet was porous, allowing the advective mass transfer.

Assessing Intermediate Formation and Electron Competition during Thiosulfate-Driven Denitrification: An Experimental and Modeling Study.

There is increasing interest in thiosulfate-driven denitrification for low C/N wastewater treatment, but the denitrification performance varies with the thiosulfate oxidation pathways. Models have been developed to predict the products of denitrification, but few consider thiosulfate reduction to elemental sulfur (S0), an undesirable reaction that can intensify electron competition with denitrifying enzymes. In this study, the model using indirect coupling of electrons (ICE) was developed to predict S0 formation and electron competition during thiosulfate-driven denitrification. Kinetic data were obtained from sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) dominated by the branched pathway and were used to calibrate and validate the model. Electron competition was investigated under different operating conditions. Modeling results reveal that electrons produced in the first step of thiosulfate oxidation typically prioritize thiosulfate reduction, then nitrate reduction, and finally nitrite reduction. However, the electron consumption rate for S0 formation decreases sharply with the decline of thiosulfate concentration. Thus, a continuous feeding strategy was effective in alleviating the competition between thiosulfate reduction and denitrifying enzymes. Electron competition leads to nitrite accumulation, which could be a reliable substrate for anammox. The model was further evaluated with anammox integration. Results suggested that the branched pathway and continuous supply of thiosulfate are favorable to create a symbiotic relationship between SOB and anammox.

Unraveling encapsulated growth of Nitrosomonas europaea in alginate: An experimental and modeling study.

Encapsulation is a promising technology to retain and protect autotrophs for biological nitrogen removal. One-dimensional biofilm models have been used to describe encapsulated systems; they do not, however, incorporate chemical sorption to the encapsulant nor do they adequately describe cell growth and distribution within the encapsulant. In this research we developed a new model to describe encapsulated growth and activity of Nitrosomonas europaea, incorporating ammonium sorption to the alginate encapsulant. Batch and continuous flow reactors were used to verify the simulation results. Quantitative PCR and cross-section fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to analyze the growth and spatial distribution of the encapsulated cells within alginate. Preferential growth of Nitrosomonas near the surface of the encapsulant was predicted by the model and confirmed by experiments. The modeling and experimental results also suggested that smaller encapsulants with a larger surface area to volume ratio would improve ammonia oxidation. Excessive aeration caused the breakage of the encapsulant, resulting in unpredicted microbial release and washout. Overall, our modeling approach is flexible and can be used to engineer and optimize encapsulated systems for enhanced biological nitrogen removal. Similar modeling approaches can be used to incorporate sorption of additional species within an encapsulant, additional nitrogen-converting microorganisms, and the use of other encapsulation materials.

New insight into CO2-mediated denitrification process in H2-based membrane biofilm reactor: An experimental and modeling study.

The H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (H2-MBfR) is an emerging technology for removal of nitrate (NO3-) in water supplies. In this research, a lab-scale H2-MBfR equipped with a separated CO2 providing system and a microsensor measuring unit was developed for NO3- removal from synthetic groundwater. Experimental results show that efficient NO3- reduction with a flux of 1.46 g/(m2⋅d) was achieved at the optimal operating conditions of hydraulic retention time (HRT) 80 min, influent NO3- concentration 20 mg N/L, H2 pressure 5 psig and CO2 addition 50 mg/L. Given the complex counter-diffusion of substrates in the H2-MBfR, mathematical modeling is a key tool to both understand its behavior and optimize its performance. A sophisticated model was successfully established, calibrated and validated via comparing the measured and simulated system performance and/or substrate gradients within biofilm. Model results indicate that i) even under the optimal operating conditions, denitrifying bacteria (DNB) in the interior and exterior of biofilm suffered low growth rate, attributed to CO2 and H2 limitation, respectively; ii) appropriate operating parameters are essential to maintaining high activity of DNB in the biofilm; iii) CO2 concentration was the decisive factor which matters its dominant role in mediating hydrogenotrophic denitrification process; iv) the predicted optimum biofilm thickness was 650 µm that can maximize the denitrification flux and prevent loss of H2.

A computational model for the catalytic hydrogel membrane reactor.

The catalytic hydrogel membrane reactor (CHMR) is a promising new technology for hydrogenation of aqueous contaminants in drinking water. It offers numerous benefits over conventional three-phase reactors, including immobilization of nano-catalysts, high reactivity, and control over the hydrogen (H2) supply concentration. In this study, a computational model of the CHMR was developed using AQUASIM and calibrated with 32 experimental datasets for a nitrite (NO2-)-reducing CHMR using palladium (Pd) nano-catalysts (~4.6 nm). The model was then used to identify key factors impacting the behavior of the CHMR, including hydrogel catalyst density, H2 supply pressure, influent and bulk NO2- concentrations, and hydrogel thickness. Based on the model calibration, the reaction rate constants for the NO2- steady-state adsorption Hinshelwood reaction equation, k1 and k2, were 0.0039 m3 mole-Pd-1 s-1 and 0.027 (mole-H2 m3)1/2 mole-Pd-1 s-1, respectively. The reactant flux, which is the overall NO2- removal rate for the CHMR, is affected by the NO2- reduction rate at each catalyst site, which is in turn controlled by the available NO2- and H2 concentrations that are regulated by their mass transport behavior. Reactant transport in the CHMR is counter-diffusional. So for thick hydrogels, the concurrent concentrations of NO2- and H2 are limiting in the middle region along the x-y plane of the hydrogel, which results in a low overall NO2- removal rate (i.e., flux). Thinner hydrogels provide higher concurrent reactant concentrations throughout the hydrogel, resulting in higher fluxes. However, if the hydrogel is too thin, the flux becomes limited by the amount of Pd that can be loaded, and unused H2 can diffuse into the bulk and promote biofilm growth. The hydrogel thickness that maximized the NO2- flux ranged between 30 and 150 µm for the conditions tested. The computational model is the first to describe CHMR behavior, and it is an important tool for the further development of the CHMR. It also can be adapted to assess CHMR behavior for other contaminants or catalysts or used for other types of interfacial catalytic membrane reactors.

Catalytic Hydrogel Membrane Reactor for Treatment of Aqueous Contaminants.

Heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysis is a promising approach for treating oxidized contaminants in drinking water, but scale-up has been limited by the challenge of immobilization of the catalyst while maintaining efficient mass transport and reaction kinetics. We describe a new process that addresses this issue: the catalytic hydrogel membrane (CHM) reactor. The CHM consists of a gas-permeable hollow-fiber membrane coated with an alginate-based hydrogel containing catalyst nanoparticles. The CHM benefits from counter-diffusional transport within the hydrogel, where H2 diffuses from the interior of the membrane and contaminant species (e.g., NO2-, O2) diffuse from the bulk aqueous solution. The reduction of O2 and NO2- were investigated using CHMs with varying palladium catalyst densities, and mass transport of reactive species in the catalytic hydrogel was characterized using microsensors. The thickness of the "reactive zone" within the hydrogel affected the reaction rate and byproduct selectivity, and it was dependent on catalyst density. In a continuously mixed flow reactor test using groundwater, the CHM activity was stable for a 3 day period. Outcomes of this study illustrate the potential of the CHM as a scalable process in the treatment of aqueous contaminants.