Baris Calli

Community Changes During Start-up in Methanogenic Bioreactors Exposed to Increasing Levels of Ammonia

To investigate the methanogenic population dynamics during the start-up under gradually increasing free ammonia levels, five mesophilic UASB reactors seeded with different sludges were operated for 140 days. Changes in the methanogenic community investigated by using 16S rDNA/rRNA based molecular methods such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), cloning and DNA sequencing. Free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) in the reactors was gradually increased from 50 to 130 mg l-1 by increasing total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) from 1000 to 2500 mg l-1 in the feed and keeping reactor pH at 7.7 in the active zone. Even at highest FAN level, COD and VFA removal efficiencies above 90 and 98% were obtained, respectively. However, Methanosaeta-related species mainly prevailing in seed sludges were substituted for Methanosarcina as the abundant methanogens although reactor performances were almost comparable and constant.

Bio-electrochemical post-treatment of anaerobically treated landfill leachate.

Bio-electrochemical treatment of anaerobically pre-treated landfill leachate was investigated in batch and continuous-flow two-chambered microbial fuel cells (MFCs). A high strength young landfill leachate was pre-treated using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and the effluent resembling medium-aged landfill leachate was fed to the anode chamber of MFCs. The highest maximum current and power densities achieved in continuous-flow MFC with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of five days were 525 mA/m(2) (8227 mA/m(3)) and 158 mW/m(2) (2482 mW/m(3)), respectively. Increase of HRT from one day to five days resulted in the occurrence of partial nitrification, where influent ammonia was converted into nitrite presumably due to the inhibitory effects of free ammonia. The maximum power and current densities obtained in this study were higher compared to other studies with similar leachate characteristics. The results of this study suggest that MFCs can be exploited as a polishing step for anaerobically pretreated landfill leachate.

Monitoring of population shifts in an enriched nitrifying system under gradually increased cadmium loading

The changes in nitrifying bacterial population under cadmium loading were monitored and evaluated in a laboratory scale continuous-flow enriched nitrification system. For this purpose, the following molecular microbiological methods were used: slot-blot hybridization, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), real-time PCR followed by melting curve analysis, cloning and sequence analysis. The initial cadmium concentration was incrementally increased from 1 to 10mg/l which led to a drop in ammonia removal efficiency from 99 to 10%. Inhibition was recovered when cadmium loading was stopped. During the second application of cadmium, nitrifying population became more tolerant. Even at 15mg/l Cd, only a minor inhibition was observed. To investigate the variations in ammonia and nitrite oxidizing bacteria populations in a period of 483 days, ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) and 16S rRNA genes-based molecular techniques were used. An obvious shift was experienced in the diversity of ammonia oxidizers after the first application of 10mg/l Cd. Metal-tolerant ammonia oxidizing species became dominant and the microbial diversity sharply shifted from Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus sp. to Nitrosospira sp. which were observed to tolerate higher cadmium loadings. This result indicated that the extent of nitrification inhibition was not only related to the metal concentration and quantity of microorganisms but also depended on the type of species.

Inactivation of coliform bacteria in Black Sea waters due to solar radiation

The effects of solar radiation and temperature on bacterial die-off rates in Black Sea coastal waters using total coliform as the indicator organism were studied. Coliform die-off experiments were carried out in seawater samples collected along the coastline. The experiments were conducted in beakers filled with seawater that were kept at constant temperatures and exposed to solar radiation. The membrane filter technique was used for the coliform analysis. Temperature ranging between 9 and 26 degrees C and solar radiation between 20 and 60 cal/cm(2) h were tested. Experiments in the dark were also conducted to isolate the effect of solar radiation from the other factors and, furthermore, to determine the effect of temperature on bacterial die-off. The solar radiation was found to be the most significant factor affecting the mortality of coliform bacteria.

Continuous flow membrane-less air cathode microbial fuel cell with spunbonded olefin diffusion layer

The power production performance of a membrane-less air-cathode microbial fuel cell was evaluated for 53 days. Anode and cathode electrodes and the micro-fiber cloth separator were configured by sandwiching the separator between two electrodes. In addition, the air-facing side of the cathode was covered with a spunbonded olefin sheet instead of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating to control oxygen diffusion and water loss. The configuration resulted in a low resistance of about 4Ω and a maximum power density of 750 mW/m2. However, as a result of a gradual decrease in the cathode potential, maximum power density decreased to 280 mW/m2. The declining power output was attributed to loss of platinum catalyst (8.26%) and biomass growth (38.44%) on the cathode. Coulombic efficiencies over 55% and no water leakage showed that the spunbonded olefin sheet covering the air-facing side of the cathode can be a cost-effective alternative to PTFE coating.

Anaerobic Treatment by a Hybrid Reactor

Utilization or disposal of cheese whey is still one of the most significant problems in the dairy industry, even though there are a number of technological developments in the transformation of cheese whey to other useful products. In the last decade, parallel to the increase in the number of big cheese factories in Turkey, cheese whey generation in huge amounts has given rise to serious disposal problems. In this study, anaerobic treatability of a high strength acidic cheese whey taken from a middle-size cheese factory was investigated, which is treated aerobically together with cleaning and cooling waters in the existing treatment plant. The treatability study was carried out in a laboratory scale upflow hybrid bed reactor. The reactor showed a successful performance up to an organic loading rate of approximately 11 kgCOD/m3⋅day and 2 days HRT with removal efficiencies more than 95% if the alkalinity in the reactor was stabilized by controlling the influent pH when necessary. Results of the anaerobic tr...

Significance of acetogenic H2 consumption in dark fermentation and effectiveness of pH

Two identical thermophilic H(2) fermenters (R1 and R2) were operated at different pH levels between 4.7 and 5.7. In R1, several unexpected and severe drops in H(2) yield inversely proportional to increase in acetate production were experienced at pH 5.5 and 5.7. In contrast, R2 operated at pH 5 and 4.7 performed more stable H(2) production mainly through butyrate fermentation. Although the H(2) partial pressure (>50 kPa) was far above the favorable values, acetate was produced as well as butyrate in all pH levels tested. To determine whether some portion of the acetate is produced through another pathway such as autotrophic synthesis via H(2) dependent reduction of CO(2) or not, batch dissolved H(2) consumption rate tests were performed at pH 5.0, 5.5 and 6. The specific H(2) consumption rate was 488(+/-49) micromol/gVSS.hr at pH 6 and slightly higher than at pH 5 and 5.5. The results of continuous and batch experiments revealed that acetogenic H(2) consumption is more favorable at pH levels above 5.5 and is one of the reasons of instabilities in dark fermentative H(2) production.

Ammonia and pH Inhibition in Anaerobic Treatment of Wastewaters, Part I: Experimental

Abstract The influences of pH and ammonia on methane production in the anaerobic treatment of an acetic-propionic-butyric acid mixture in batch reactors operated at 37°C were investigated. Two independent sets of experiments were carried out using seeds from two different full-scale industrial anaerobic treatment reactors. One of the seeds (“Sludge A”) was obtained from an upflow anaerobic sludge-blanket (UASB) reactor treating the waste from a potato chips production plant. The second sludge seed (“Sludge B”) was from an expanded granular sludge-blanket (EGSB) reactor treating a corn processing waste. Experiments were carried out at four different pH values (6.8, 7.4, 7.8, 8.4) and with six different TAN (Total Ammonia Nitrogen) values (262 mg/L (control), 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000). Three vials (triple runs) were used for each pH and TAN value. The sludge seeds used in the inhibition tests were not exposed to high levels of ammonia at any stage before the tests. For each vial, cumulative methane production was monitored for a period long enough for the termination of biogas production. Although neither sludge was acclimated to ammonia, the lag-phase times were less than 2 days for Sludge A and essentially zero for Sludge B for all TAN and pH values. At certain high pH and high TAN values, however, methanogenic activity ceased within about 1–3 months; and then activity restarted and methane formation rate reached its maximum values after this period. If the experiments had not been continued following this period, this reactivation phenomenon would not have been detected.

Molecular Analysis of Microbial Communities in Nitrification and Denitrification Reactors Treating High Ammonia Leachate

Abstract Molecular analysis of microbial populations in two bench-scale nitrification and denitrification reactors fed with high ammonia landfill leachate was conducted in this study by using DGGE, cloning, and FISH techniques in addition to classical efficiency control parameters. Nitrification tank was operated with a computer-controlled alkalinity dosing system to supply the alkalinity intermittently as consumed on the basis of on-line pH monitoring. By keeping the pH at 7.0 with this system, 99% nitrification efficiency and rates of about 0.14–0.18 mg -N/mgVSS day were obtained. Meanwhile, as ammonia oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus mobilis-like cells and as nitrite oxidizing bacteria Nitrobacter-related cells were intensively indicated. Moreover, some aerobic denitrifiers as Thauera species were also identified. After the termination of pH adjustment in the preceding anaerobic reactors, nitrification tank was loaded with more biodegradable COD as a result of reduced COD removal in anaerobic reactors. Microbial diversity was immediately affected from this alteration and heterotrophic carbonaceous bacteria and aerobic denitrifiers have dominated. To provide the former high efficiencies, retention time has increased from 24 to 48 h and a second pump dosing HCl was included to the automatic control system. Subsequent to these precautions, numbers of ammonia (Nso190) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NIT3) were comparatively increased. In denitrification system, about 98% denitrification efficiencies were obtained at 2000 mg/L NO x -N concentrations if sodium acetate was supplied as carbon source. Meanwhile, with 20 gVSS/l biomass concentration, denitrification rates of about 1.34 mgNO x -N/mgVSS day were obtained. All sludge samples have represented similar DGGE patterns and Paraccoccus-related species were identified as dominant denitrifying bacteria.

Performance of polydimethylsiloxane membrane contactor process for selective hydrogen sulfide removal from biogas.

H2S in biogas affects the co-generation performance adversely by corroding some critical components within the engine and it has to be removed in order to improve the biogas quality. This work presents the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane contactor for selective removal of H2S from the biogas. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of different pH of absorption liquid, biogas flowrate and temperature on the absorption performances. The results revealed that at the lowest loading rate (91mg H2S/m2·h) more than 98% H2S and 59% CO2 absorption efficiencies were achieved. The CH4 content in the treated gas increased from 60 to 80% with nearly 5% CH4 loss. Increasing the pH (7-10) and loading rate (91-355mg H2S/m2·h) enhanced the H2S absorption capacity, and the maximum H2S/CO2 and H2S/CH4 selectivity factors were 2.5 and 58, respectively. Temperature played a key role in the process and lower temperature was beneficial for intensifying H2S absorption performance. The highest H2S fluxes at pH 10 and 7 were 3.4g/m2·d and 1.8g/m2·d with overall mass transfer coefficients of 6.91×10-6 and 4.99×10-6m/s, respectively. The results showed that moderately high H2S fluxes with low CH4 loss may be achieved by using a robust and cost-effective membrane based absorption process for desulfurization of biogas. A tubular PDMS membrane contactor was tested for the first time to remove H2S from biogas under slightly alkaline conditions and the suggested process could be a promising for real scale applications.