Chart Chiemchaisri

Toxic organic micro-pollutants removal mechanisms in long-term operated membrane bioreactor treating municipal solid waste leachate

The performance of two-stage membrane bioreactor (MBR) in term of toxic organic micro-pollutants removal was continuously monitored for 300 days under long sludge age condition. The phenolic compounds and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in landfill leachate and treated water from MBR unit were quantified by solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Priority pollutants in landfill leachate were phenolics and their degradation products i.e. 4-methyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, bisphenol A at higher concentrations above 100 μg/l, PAEs i.e. dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. It was found that MBR could remove phenolic compounds and PAEs by 77-96%. Biodegradation and adsorption mechanisms were responsible for their removals in MBR. Additionally, the retention of compounds during filtration through the fouled membrane was also found significant. This research shows that the removal of organic micro-pollutants in landfill leachate was improved under higher biomass concentration and longer sludge age conditions.

Leachate treatment and greenhouse gas emission in subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetland

Organic and nitrogen removal efficiencies in subsurface horizontal flow wetland system (HSF) with cattail (Typha augustifolia) treating young and partially stabilized solid waste leachate were investigated. Hydraulic loading rate (HLR) in the system was varied at 0.01, 0.028 and 0.056 m(3)/m(2) d which is equivalent to hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 28, 10 and 5 d. Average BOD removals in the system were 98% and 71% when applied to young and partially stabilized leachate at HLR of 0.01 m(3)/m(2) d. In term of total kjeldahl nitrogen, average removal efficiencies were 43% and 46%. High nitrogen in the stabilized leachate adversely affected the treatment performance and vegetation in the system. Nitrogen transforming bacteria were found varied along the treatment pathway. Methane emission rate was found to be highest at the inlet zone during young leachate treatment at 79-712 mg/m(2) d whereas CO2 emission ranged from 26-3266 mg/m(2) d. The emission of N2O was not detected.

Carbon dioxide capture and nutrients removal utilizing treated sewage by concentrated microalgae cultivation in a membrane photobioreactor

A highly efficient microalgae cultivation process was developed for carbon dioxide capture using nutrients from treated sewage. A submerged-membrane filtration system was installed in a photobioreactor to achieve high nutrient loading and to maintain a high concentration and production of microalgae. Chlorella vulgaris, Botryococcus braunii and Spirulina platensis were continuously cultivated with simulated treated sewage and 1%-CO(2) gas. The optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solids retention time (SRT) were explored to achieve the maximum CO(2) capture rate, nutrient removal rate and microalgae biomass productivity. The carbon dioxide capture rate and volumetric microalgae productivity were high when the reactor was operated under 1-day (HRT) and 18-days (SRT) conditions. The independent control of HRT and SRT is effective for efficient microalgae cultivation and carbon dioxide capture using treated sewage.

Removals of phenolic compounds and phthalic acid esters in landfill leachate by microbial sludge of two-stage membrane bioreactor.

Removals of bisphenol A (BPA), 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (2,6-DTBP), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4methylphenol (BHT), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were monitored in two-stage membrane bioreactor (MBR) by operating under no sludge wastage condition for 500 days. Those emerging contaminants were removed by 99.5%, 99.0%, 99.5%, 97.9%, 96.8% and 95.7% under long term operation in MBR without reaching maximum adsorption capacity of sludge. Biodegradation was the main mechanism for their removals in MBR systems and the microbial activities were enhanced by long sludge age operating condition. The removals of those compounds by microbial sludge in MBR by adsorption and combined (adsorption & biodegradation) mechanisms were well explained by pseudo-second order and first order kinetics, respectively.

Antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli in leachates from municipal solid waste landfills: Comparison between semi-aerobic and anaerobic operations

A bacterial susceptibility test to 31 antibiotics was conducted on the 80 isolated Escherichia coli from the leachates of the landfills in two different operations: semi-aerobic (SL) and anaerobic (AL) landfills. The average population of E. coli from SL and AL leachates were 2.2 × 10(4) and 9.4 × 10(3)CFU/100ml, respectively. Between 80.8% and 87.5% of the E. coli isolated from both leachates as resistant to the tested antibiotics and high resistances were found to doxycycline (53.8-68.8%), cephalothin (57.5-61.3%), tetracycline (51.3-67.5%) and minocycline (37.5-46.3%). The percentages of isolates resistant to most antibiotics were higher in the AL leachate. The exception was nitrofurantoin to which the isolates from the SL were highly resistant. E. coli from both sources showed similarly high susceptibilities (90-100%) to aminoglycosides, quinolones, chloramphenicol, sulfonamide and some new beta-lactams. The difference in available oxygen in landfills could affect E. coli susceptibility to antibiotics in leachates.

Application of chemical precipitation and membrane bioreactor hybrid process for piggery wastewater treatment.

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical precipitation (CP) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) hybrid process for the treatment of piggery wastewater. Average removal efficiencies for BOD, COD and turbidity in CP process were 64.3%, 77.3% and 96.4%, respectively. CP process had a moderate effect on NH(3)-N removal (40.4%) which improved up to 98.2% mainly due to nitrification and filtration processes in MBR. The average removal efficiencies of BOD, COD and turbidity in MBR were 99.5%, 99.4% and 99.8%, respectively. Monod equation was used to explain the microbial activities in terms of specific growth rate. The specific growth rate of bacteria in aeration tank (N-batch) and anoxic tank (D-batch) were 0.013 and 0.005d(-1) with a biomass yield of 0.78 and 0.43mg MLSS produced/mg COD utilized, respectively. Microorganisms from the N-batch and D-batch showed a low-level of nitrifying and moderate-level of denitrifying capabilities which were 1.08mg NH(3)-N/(g MLVSS.h) and 2.82mg NO(3)-N/(g MLVSS.h), respectively. Carbohydrates were the main component in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) compounds that could be attached to the membrane surface easily and led to membrane biofouling. The increase of MLSS, EPS and sludge viscosity concentration, decrease of sludge floc size and incomplete chemical cleaning procedure resulted in the increase of membrane resistance. Total membrane resistance increased from 3.19x10(12)m(-1) to 5.43x10(14)m(-1).

Removal of pollutants and reduction of bio-toxicity in a full scale chemical coagulation and reverse osmosis leachate treatment system

Removals of pollutants and toxic organic compounds and reduction in bio-toxicity of leachate along an operating full-scale leachate treatment system utilizing chemical coagulation, sand filtration, microfiltration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane were evaluated. High pollutant removals were achieved mainly by coagulation and sand filtration. Major toxic organic pollutants, i.e. DEHP, DBP and bisphenol A were removed by 100%, 99.6% and 98.0%. Acute toxicity test using water flea, Nile Tilapia and common carp and genotoxicity (Comet assay) were conducted to determine toxicity reduction in leachate along the treatment. Ammonia was found to be the main acute toxic compounds in leachate as determined by LC(50) but the effect of organic substances was also observed. DNA damage in fish exposed to diluted raw leachate (10% of LC(50)) was found to be 8.9-24.3% and it was subsequently decreased along the treatment. Correlation between pollutants and its bio-toxicity was established using multivariable analyses.

Organic carbon recovery and photosynthetic bacteria population in an anaerobic membrane photo-bioreactor treating food processing wastewater

Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) were cultivated by food industry wastewater in the anaerobic membrane photo-bioreactor. Organic removal and biomass production and characteristics were accomplished via an explicit examination of the long term performance of the photo-bioreactor fed with real wastewater. With the support of infra-red light transmitting filter, PNSB could survive and maintain in the system even under the continual fluctuations of influent wastewater characteristics. The average BOD and COD removal efficiencies were found at the moderate range of 51% and 58%, respectively. Observed photosynthetic biomass yield was 0.6g dried solid/g BOD with crude protein content of 0.41 g/g dried solid. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic analysis (DGGE) and 16S rDNA sequencing revealed the presence of Rhodopseudomonas palustris and significant changes in the photosynthetic bacterial community within the system.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Potential of the Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Thailand

Abstract Open dumping and landfilling are the prevalent solid waste disposal practices in Thailand. Surveys on the disposal sites revealed the presence of 95 landfills and 330 open dumps. Methane emission potential at these sites was estimated by three methods. Results of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) method, Landfill Gas Emission model (LandGEM), and closed flux chamber technique were compared. The methane emission potential of 366 Gg/yr using the IPCC method was higher than the estimations of the LandGEM and closed flux chamber method of 115 Gg/yr and 103 Gg/yr, respectively. An understanding of the methane emission potential initiated the analysis of upgrading the open dumps into landfills, adding landfills to meet the future needs and utilization of landfill gases. Upgrading the open dumps to landfills increased the methane emission rates and their utilization potential. Approximately 20 additional landfills may be required to meet future demands. Landfill gas (LFG) utilization appears to be feasible in the large-scale landfills.

Biomass production from fermented starch wastewater in photo-bioreactor with internal overflow recirculation

A photo-bioreactor with internal overflow recirculation was applied to treat real fermented starch wastewater and convert it to photosynthetic biomass for further utilization. The photo-bioreactor was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 10days by circulating mixed liquor through overflow pipes and penetrating light through infrared transmitting filter. During the operation of 154days, the average BOD and COD removals were 95% and 88%, respectively. Majority of photosynthetic bacteria was found attached on pipes as biofilm contributed to 82% of total biomass production. Photosynthetic biomass yield was 0.51g dried solid/g BOD removed and crude protein content of 0.58g/g dried solid. Rhodopseudomonas palustris was found in the photosynthetic system as the predominant bacterial group by denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic analysis (DGGE) and 16S rDNA sequencing method.