Delmira Beatriz Wolff

The potential of denitrification for the stabilization of activated sludge processes affected by low alkalinity problems

In this study, the problems provoked by nitrification of wastewater with low alkalinity were analyzed in a pilot sequencing batch activated sludge reactor (SBR). Decrease in pH resulted in disappearence of protozoa. De-flocculation of the activated sludge floc started below pH 6.5, resulting in enhanced effluent turbidity and loss of bacteria. Nitrification efficiency was affected below pH 6.2. The denitrification activity was not sufficient to keep up the pH, due to a low C/N ratio of the wastewater. Based on alkalinity and ammonia concentration of the wastewater and the necessary denitrification rate to prevent operational problems, was developed a prognostic diagram. The applicability of this diagram was tested for the SBR with excellent results. The diagram could be applied to optimize the operation of wastewater treatment plants affected by problems with low alkalinity wastewater.

Utilization of a hybrid sequencing batch reactor (HSBR) as a decentralized system of domestic wastewater treatment

This paper presents the experiments carried out in a hybrid sequencing batch reactor (HSBR), used for biological treatment of sewage. The HSBR was built in a cylindrical shape and made of stainless steel, with a volume of 1.42 m3. Besides the biomass in suspension, the reactor also carried fixed biomass (hybrid process), adhered in the support material. This consisted of a nylon net disposed in a grille for biofilm biomass adhesion. The reactor worked fully automated in operational cycles of maximum 8 hours each, presenting the following phases: filling, anoxic, aerobic, settle and draw of treated effluent, with 3 fillings per cycle. Increasing organic loads (0.14 to 0.51 kg TCOD/m3 day) and ammonium loads (0.002 to 0.006 kg NH4-N/m3.day) were tested. We monitored the reactors performance by measuring the liquid phase (COD, pH, temperature, DO, nitrogen and phosphorus) during the cycles and by measuring the sludge through respirometric tests. The results obtained demonstrated TCOD removal efficiency between 73 and 96%, and ammonium removal efficiency between 50 and 99%. At the end of the cycles, the effluent presented ammonium concentration <20 mg/L, meeting the Brazilian environmental legislation standards (CONAMA 357/2005) regarding discharges into the water bodies. Respirometric tests showed biomass dependency on FCOD concentrations. Results have demonstrated the potential of this type of reactor for decentralized treatment of domestic wastewater.

Nitrification in hybrid reactor with a recycled plastic support material

This work investigated the nitrification in a hybrid moving bed pilot scale reactor, which used a low density recycled plastic support material for biomass growth. The filling rate was 20% of its working volume (22L). The feeding and recirculation outflow was 45L/day. The reactor operated at a temperature of 16oC, in two phases, according to the sludge retention time (SRT): A phase was 10 days and B phase was 3 days (average values). The applied average volumetric nitrogen and organic loads were 0.16KgTKN/m3.day and 1kgCOD/m3.day, respectively. The results showed an average nitrogen removal of 95% and average COD removal of 89%, in both A and B phases. Nitrogen removal rates were independents of the SRT.

Influência do tipo de material suporte no desempenho de reatores biológicos de leito móvel na remoção de carbono e nitrificação de esgoto sanitário

This paper presented the influence of material support kind: P4 (rugous recycled plastic, medium diameter of 2.31 mm, density of 900 kg.m-3, specific surface potential of 2,596 m2.m-3sup) and P5 (polietilene, cilindric shape, medium diameter of 10 mm, density of 880 kg.m-3, specific surface potential of 3,075m2.m-3sup) used in two continuous flux biological moving bed reactors using different material support to remove nitrogen and carbon from sewage, which was divided in two phases according to sludge retention time (SRT): phase A: SRT of 10 days and phase B: SRT of 3 days. The organic loading rates applied were 4.0 kgCOD.m-2.d-1 (P4) and 4.1 kgCOD.m-2.d-1 (P5); and the nitrogen loading rates applied were 0.63 kgN.m-2.d-1 and 0.66 kgN.m-2.d-1 for P4 and P5, respectively. The support P4 achieved efficiencies of 87% for total carbon removal and 83% for nitrogen removal during phase A. These efficiencies slightly decreased to 80 and 77% for total carbon and nitrogen, respectively (phase B). The support P5 got removal efficiencies of 63% for total carbon and 55% for nitrogen (phase A) and 59% for total carbon and nitrogen (phase B). These results showed that the total carbon and nitrogen removal efficiencies were not affected by the SRT, but by the kind of support used (carrier geometry or surface characteristics) and available specific surface area for biomass growth.