Edgardo M Contreras

Phosphorous removal in batch systems using ferric chloride in the presence of activated sludges

The objectives of this work were: (a) to analyze the effect of alkalinity, pH and initial Fe:P molar ratio (Fe(0):P(0)) on the precipitation of orthophosphate using ferric chloride in the presence of activated sludge in order to represent conditions of simultaneous precipitation, and in exhausted wastewater to simulate conditions of post-precipitation, (b) to compare the experimental results with predictions obtained from a chemical equilibrium model, and (c) to propose a mechanistic model to determine the dose of coagulant required to achieve a given orthophosphate removal degree at constant pH. Results showed that the presence of biomass did not affect the orthophosphate precipitation; however, addition of ferric chloride caused a drop of pH to values not compatible with the normal activity of activated sludges. For this reason, the wastewater was supplemented with NaHCO(3); when 1gL(-1) NaHCO(3) was added, orthophosphate removals higher than 97% and pH above 6.2 were obtained using Fe(0):P(0)=1.9. Precipitation assays at constant pH showed that Fe(III) hydrolysis and FePO(4) precipitation reaction compete with each other. Calculations using a chemical equilibrium model (CHEAQS) predicted that ferric phosphate precipitation should not take place if pH is higher than about 7.8. However, experimental results showed that ferric phosphate precipitation occurred even at pH 9. For this reason, a mechanistic model was proposed to predict orthophosphate concentrations as a function of Fe(0):P(0) at constant pH. The model can be applied to calculate the minimum Fe(III) concentration required to achieve a given discharge limit for orthophosphate as a function of its initial concentration and pH.

Modelling phenol biodegradation by activated sludges evaluated through respirometric techniques

In this paper respirometric techniques were used to study the effect of pH, phenol and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations on the phenol biodegradation kinetics by activated sludges. In addition, a mathematical model was developed to interpret the obtained respirometric curves. Closed respirometer experiments showed that phenol inhibited the respiration rate of unacclimated sludges. On the contrary, oxygen uptake rate (OUR) of phenol acclimated sludges exhibiting the typical Haldanes substrate inhibition curve. The Monod equation adequately represented the relation between OUR of acclimated biomass and DO concentration. Within the tested pH range (4-12) the oxygen saturation coefficient was independent of pH. On the contrary, the maximum OUR was strongly affected by the pH, being its maximum between 9.5 and 10.5. Open respirometer experiments shows that as pH decreased from 10.2 to 5.8, the maximum OUR also decreased, in accordance with the trend observed in the closed respirometer experiments. Although the respiration rate of phenol degrading bacteria was strongly affected by pH, a constant phenol oxidation coefficient was observed within the studied pH interval. A mathematical model was proposed to interpret the open respirometry curves. The coefficients of the model were estimated using both pseudo steady state and dynamic conditions for different biomass concentrations. The model adequately predicted the whole OUR and DO profiles as a function of time during the biodegradation of phenol under different DO conditions. The mathematical model proposed in the present work is useful for predicting transient responses such as substrate concentration and DO concentrations as a function of time in bioreactors treating phenolic wastewaters under an overload of phenolic compounds.

Modeling of chlorine effect on floc forming and filamentous micro-organisms of activated sludges

Chlorination is the most economical, non-specific method to control the excessive growth of filamentous micro-organisms causing bulking in activated sludge systems in the treatment of food industrial wastewaters; it was one of the first methods used to control filamentous bulking and is still widely employed. Considering that chlorination affects both floc-forming and filamentous micro-organisms and leaves undesirable disinfection by-products, it is necessary to define the adequate doses to control bulking, minimizing the effect on floc-forming bacteria. In the present work the effect of biomass concentration and type of micro-organism on chlorine decay kinetics was evaluated; the inactivation of either a filamentous (Sphaerotilus natans) or a floc-forming (Acinetobacter anitratus) micro-organism due to chlorination was also analyzed. For chlorine decay assays, the samples were treated in a batch system with sodium hypochlorite ranging between 9.8 and 56.6 mg Cl(2) (gVSS)(-1). Respirometric assays were used to evaluate the effect of chlorine on micro-organisms respiratory activity; in these cases, sodium hypochlorite doses ranged between 2.5 and 18 mgCl(2) (gVSS)(-1).A model that allowed to predict simultaneously chlorine consumption and respiratory activity decay for both micro-organisms as a function of time was proposed. The model includes three coupled differential equations corresponding to respiratory inhibition, readily organic matter oxidation by chlorine and chlorine decay. The rate of chlorine decay depended on both, type and concentration of the micro-organisms in the system. Chlorine consumption rate due to S. natans was 2-4 times faster than A. anitratus. Using the proposed model initial critical chlorine doses (the lowest initial dose that leads to a total inhibition of the respiratory activity) were calculated for both micro-organisms and values of 11.9 mgCl(2) (gVSS)(-1) for S. natans and 4.5 mgCl(2) (gVSS)(-1) for A. anitratus were obtained. These critical doses indicated that in non flocculated pure cultures, floc-former bacteria A. anitratus was more susceptible to chlorine action than S. natans.

Cr(Vi) reduction capacity of activated sludge as affected by nitrogen and carbon sources, microbial acclimation and cell multiplication

The objectives of the present work were: (i) to analyze the capacity of activated sludge to reduce hexavalent chromium using different carbon sources as electron donors in batch reactors, (ii) to determine the relationship between biomass growth and the amount of Cr(VI) reduced considering the effect of the nitrogen to carbon source ratio, and (iii) to determine the effect of the Cr(VI) acclimation stage on the performance of the biological chromium reduction assessing the stability of the Cr(VI) reduction capacity of the activated sludge. The highest specific Cr(VI) removal rate (q(Cr)) was attained with cheese whey or lactose as electron donors decreasing in the following order: cheese whey approximately lactose>glucose>citrate>acetate. Batch assays with different nitrogen to carbon source ratio demonstrated that biological Cr(VI) reduction is associated to the cell multiplication phase; as a result, maximum Cr(VI) removal rates occur when there is no substrate limitation. The biomass can be acclimated to the presence of Cr(VI) and generate new cells that maintain the ability to reduce chromate. Therefore, the activated sludge process could be applied to a continuous Cr(VI) removal process.

Modeling the aerobic growth and decline of Staphylococcus aureus as affected by pH and potassium sorbate concentration.

The effects of pH (5.0, 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, and 5,8) and concentration of potassium sorbate (10.0 and 16.6 mM) at two water activity values (0.90 and 0.92) on the aerobic growth and decline of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, 196-E, and FDA-C243 were studied using brain-heart infusion broth. The inoculum was approximately 4 to 5 log CFU/ml, and the incubation temperature was 30 degrees C. Samples were periodically enumerated on tryptic soy agar. The Gompertz model was used to obtain microbial growth parameters, specific growth rate was obtained as a derived parameter, and the inhibition index was calculated. A linear model was fitted in cases of bacteriostatic or bactericidal action of the treatment. The ATCC 6538P strain showed the highest resistance in the range of tested conditions. Microbial behavior was modeled considering the main controlling factors, and a response surface methodology was used to determine the effects of undissociated acid concentration and pH. These results can be used to establish treatment conditions for microorganism growth or inhibition.

Interdependence between the aerobic degradation of BPA and readily biodegradable substrates by activated sludge in semi-continuous reactors

The objective of the present work was to analyze the interrelationship between the aerobic degradation of BPA and readily biodegradable substrates by activated sludge (AS) in semi-continuous reactors (SCRs). AS were obtained from three SCRs fed with glucose, acetate or peptone. AS from these reactors were used as inocula for three SCRs that were fed with each biogenic substrate, and for three SCRs that were fed with the biogenic substrate and BPA. In all cases, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), BPA, total suspended solids (TSS) and respirometric measurements were performed. Although BPA could be removed in the presence of all the tested substrates, AS grown on acetate exhibited the longest acclimation to BPA. Reactors fed with peptone attained the lowest TSS concentration; however, these AS had the highest specific BPA degradation rate. Specific DOC removal rates and respirometric measurements demonstrated that the presence of BPA had a negligible effect on the removal of the tested substrates. A mathematical model was developed to represent the evolution of TSS and DOC in the SCRs as a function of the operation cycle. Results suggest that the main effect of BPA on AS was to increase the generation of microbial soluble products. This work helps to understand the relationship between the biodegradation of BPA and readily biodegradable substrates.