Fenglin Yang

The development of simultaneous partial nitrification, ANAMMOX and denitrification (SNAD) process in a single reactor for nitrogen removal.

The simultaneous partial nitrification, ANAMMOX and denitrification (SNAD) process was validated to potentially remove ammonium and COD from wastewater in a single, oxygen-limited, non-woven rotating biological contactor (NRBC) reactor. An ammonium conversion efficiency of 79%, TN removal efficiency of 70% and COD removal efficiency of 94% were obtained with the nitrogen and COD loading rate of 0.69 kgN/m(3)d and 0.34 kg/m(3)d, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation and fluorescence in situ hybridizations (FISH) analysis revealed the existence of the dominant groups of bacteria. As a result, the aerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), with a spot of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were mainly distributed in the aerobic outer part of the biofilm. However, ANAMMOX bacteria with denitrifying bacteria were present and active in the anaerobic inner part of the SNAD biofilm. These bacteria were found to exist in a dynamic equilibrium to achieve simultaneous nitrogen and COD removal in NRBC system.

Comparison between a moving bed membrane bioreactor and a conventional membrane bioreactor on organic carbon and nitrogen removal

A membrane bioreactor filled with carriers instead of activated sludge named a moving bed membrane bioreactor (MBMBR) was investigated for simultaneously removing organic carbon and nitrogen in wastewater. Its performance was compared with a conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) at various influent COD/TN ratios of 8.9-22.1. The operational parameters were optimized to increase the treatment efficiency. COD removal efficiency averaged at 95.6% and 96.2%, respectively, for MBMBR and CMBR during the 4 months experimental period. The MBMBR system demonstrated good performance on nitrogen removal at different COD/TN ratios. When COD/TN was 8.9 and the total nitrogen (TN) load was 7.58 mg/l h, the TN and ammonium nitrogen removal efficiencies of the MBMBR were maintained over 70.0% and 80.0%, respectively, and the removed total nitrogen (TN) load reached to 5.31 mg/l h. Multifunctional microbial reactions in the carrier, such as simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND), play important roles in nitrogen removal. In comparison, the CMBR did not perform so well. Its TN removal was not stable, and the removed total nitrogen (TN) load was only 1.02 mg/l h at COD/TN ratio 8.9. The specific oxygen utilization rate (SOUR) showed that the biofilm has a better microbial activity than an activated sludge. Nevertheless, the membrane fouling behavior was more severe in the MBMBR than in the CMBR due to a thick and dense cake layer formed on the membrane surface, which was speculated to be caused by the filamentous bacteria in the MBMBR.

Control of COD/N ratio for nutrient removal in a modified membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating high strength wastewater

A modified membrane bioreactor (MBR) system has been developed to evaluate the efficiency of nutrient removal in treating synthetic high strength water. This study examined the effect of influent COD/N ratio on this system. Results showed that above 95.0% removal efficiencies of organic matter were achieved; indicating COD removal was irrespective of COD/N ratio. The average removal efficiencies of total nitrogen (TN) and phosphate (PO(4)(3-)-P) with a COD/N ratio of 9.3 were the highest at 90.6% and 90.5%, respectively. Furthermore, TN removal was primarily based on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process occurred in the aerobic zone. Decreased COD/N ratios to 7.0 and 5.3, TN removal efficiencies in steady-states were 69.3% and 71.2%, respectively. Both aerobic SND and conventional biological nitrification/denitrification contributed to nitrogen removal and the latter played dominant effect. PO(4)(3-)-P-release and uptake process ceased in steady-states of COD/N 7.0 and 5.3, which decreased its removal efficiency significantly.

Simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal by a novel sequencing batch moving bed membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment.

Biological nutrient removal (BNR) was investigated in a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor which used carriers instead of activated sludge named a sequencing batch moving bed membrane bioreactor (SBMBMBR). The SBMBMBR performed well on carbon and nitrogen removal at different COD/TN ratios. COD, TN and ammonium nitrogen removal efficiencies averaged at 93.5%, 82.6% and 95.6%, respectively. The TP removal was closely correlated with the length of anaerobic phase and aerobic phase. When anaerobic time and aerobic time were both 2h, the average TP removal efficiency reached to 84.1% at influent TP concentration of 12.4 mg/L. DO in aerobic phase was an important factor affecting nutrient removal, and the optimal DO was about 3mg/L. There was a small amount of denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (DPAOs) in SBMBMBR which resulted from the anoxic microenvironment existed in the inner of the biofilm. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results of microbes showed the composition and spatial structure of the microbial community in the reactor. Furthermore, sequencing batch mode operation was propitious to retard membrane fouling.

Start-up of the Anammox process from the conventional activated sludge in a membrane bioreactor

A lab-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was used to start-up the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process from the conventional activated sludge for 2 months. Results indicated the MBR could be a novel and suitable system for start-up of the Anammox process. The Anammox activity appeared after 16 days operation, and the average removal efficiencies of ammonia and nitrite were both over 90% in the end. A final specific Anammox activity of 0.35 g NH(4)(+)-N+NO(2)(-)-N (gVSS *d)(-1) was obtained. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis confirmed the existence of Anammox bacteria and aerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria. On the basis of results on MBR performance and FISH analysis, it was proposed that the start-up process was essentially a microbial community succession under man-made disturbance, and a climax community with Anammox bacteria as the dominant population was finally established.

Covalent assembly of 3D graphene/polypyrrole foams for oil spill cleanup

Functionalized graphene oxide (KGO) sheets were covalently assembled with pyrrole and reduced to form a 3D foam structure via a multistep route through the hydrolytic condensation (cross-linking), polymerization reactions and hydrothermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO). The formed graphene/polypyrrole foam and its structures were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The specific surface area and the total pore volume of the samples were measured using N2 adsorption. The graphene composite foams have a special 3D structure, with a wide range of macropores (from sub-μm to several hundred μm) and mesopores within. Due to the intrinsic covalent bonding between graphene sheets and the special 3D structure, not only were the sorption capacities of the graphene/polypyrrole foams determined to be very high for oil (>100 g g−1) and solvent, but also the sorption rate was very high.

Photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] needles under sunlight irradiation

Photolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sorbed on surfaces of spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] needles under sunlight irradiation was investigated. PAHs were produced by combustion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wood, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and styrene in a stove. The factors of sunlight irradiation on the surfaces of spruce needles were taken into consideration when investigating the kinetic parameters. The photolysis of the 18 PAHs under study follows first-order kinetics. The photolysis half-lives range from 15 h for dibenzo(a,h)anthracene to 75 h for phenanthrene. Photolysis of some PAHs on surfaces of spruce needles may play an important role on the fate of PAHs in the environment.

Hydrophobic modification of polyurethane foam for oil spill cleanup

To improve the oleophilic/hydrophobic properties of polyurethane (PU) foams for oil spill cleanup, PU samples were modified by grafting with oleophilic monomer Lauryl methacrylate (LMA) in solvent and/or coating with LMA microspheres through heating and curing. Modified PU cubes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The water sorption of modified PU cubes was decreased by 24-50%, while the diesel or kerosene sorption of modified PU cubes was increased by 18-27%. In water-oil system, compared with blank PU cubes, the sorption capacity of PU cubes grafted with LMA was increased by 44% for diesel and 100% for kerosene. The sorption capacity of PU cubes coated with LMA microspheres was increased by 20% for diesel and 7% for kerosene. The solvent sorption of modified PU cubes could reach 50-69 g/g. The modified PU cubes can be effectively used in oil/solvent spill cleanup.

The influence of controlling factors on the start-up and operation for partial nitrification in membrane bioreactor.

In this study, the partial nitrification process was started-up successfully in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The influence of temperature and DO was investigated by sequencing operation of membrane bioreactor. The preferred values were proved as 35 degrees C and 0.3-0.5mg/L, respectively, and were indicated as indispensable controlling factors. In order to increase the sludge concentration, new seed sludge was added into the reactor, which caused the absolute destruction of the reactor performance. The results of reactor experiments showed that the free ammonia (FA) concentration of 74 mg NH(3)/L, as the influent ammonium concentration of 600 mg N/L, was a useful and effective factor to recover the partial nitrification performance. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis indicated that nitrifiers hybridizing with NIT3 and NSR1156 were present and active in MBR, which were then eliminated under high FA concentration. The microbiological community analysis further provided the necessary biological information for the realization of partial nitrification.

Evaluation of oxygen adaptation and identification of functional bacteria composition for anammox consortium in non-woven biological rotating contactor

In this study, the anammox consortium was found to adapt to the wastewater containing dissolved oxygen (DO), as the DO was gradually increased. Batch tests indicated the maximum aerobic ammonium oxidizing activity of the consortium was 1.38mmolNH4+-N(gVSS)(-1)day(-1), which played key roles in the oxygen consumption process; the maximum anaerobic ammonium oxidizing activity was slightly decreased after long-term oxygen exposure, but only from 21.23mmolNH4+-N(gVSS)(-1)day(-1) to 20.23mmolNH4+-N(gVSS)(-1)day(-1). Microbiological community analysis identified two strains similar to Nitrosomonas eutropha were responsible for oxygen consumption, which were able to exist in the autotrophic anaerobic condition for long periods and protect anammox bacteria Planctomycetales from the influence of oxygen. Microbiological composition analysis showed Nitrosomonas and Planctomycetales approximately accounted for 10% and 70% of the bacteria, respectively. The possibility of cultivation anammox consortium in presence of DO will lead to substantial savings of energy and resource in the industrial application.