Izabella Kłodowska

The effect of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on nutrient removal in SBR with biomass adapted to dairy wastewater

This study aims to determine the effect of volatile fatty acids on nitrates and orthophosphate removal in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with activated sludge biomass adapted to process dairy wastewater. The research also determine whether it is the type of fatty acid applied that is responsible for the effectiveness of denitrification and dephosphatation at varying nitrate:orthophosphate ratios, or whether these processes are additionally affected by the presence of microorganisms that have adapted to the specific carbon composition of the wastewater being treated. At the beginning of an operating cycle SBRs were dosed with VFAs to provide a source of carbon. A comparative analysis was performed of nitrate and orthophosphate removal at initial nitrate concentrations of 1.22, 7.3 and 15.2 mgNNO3·L−1. Doses of fatty acids were approximately 10.5 mgCOD·mg−1PPO4. They consisted of acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric and caproic acids. Increases of nitrate concentration from 1.22 to 15.2 mg NNO3·L−1 were observed to reduce the quantity of removed orthophosphate depending on the fatty acid applied, from 7.2–9.2 mgPPO4·L−1 to 4.5 – 6.7 mgPPO4·L−1. Every increase in the removed nitrates by 5.0 mgNNO3·L−1 was accompanied by a decrease in the removed orthophosphate of around 1 mgPPO4·L−1. The reactor containing acetic acid was found to remove the highest amount of orthophosphate irrespective of the nitrates concentration. Acids present in significant amount in dairy wastewaters (i.e. acetic, propionic and butyric) were more effective source of carbon in the denitrification process compared to low concentration acids.

Hydrogenotrophic denitrification process efficiency and the number of denitrifying bacteria (MPN) in the sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) with platinum and carbon anodes

ABSTRACT This work reports on the effect of electric current density and anode material (platinum, carbon) on the concentration of oxidized and mineral forms of nitrogen, on physical parameters (pH, redox potential, electrical conductivity) and the number of denitrifying bacteria in the biofilm (MPN). Experiments were conducted under anaerobic conditions without and with the flow of electric current (with density of 79 mA·m−2 and 132 mA·m−2). Results obtained in the study enabled concluding that increasing density of electric current caused a decreasing concentration of nitrate in the reactor with platinum anode (R1) and carbon anode (R2). Its concentration depended on anode material. The highest hydrogenotrophic denitrification efficiency was achieved in R2 in which the process was aided by inorganic carbon (CO2) that originated from carbon anode oxidation and the electrical conductivity of wastewater increased as a result of the presence of HCO3− and CO32− ions. Strong oxidizing properties of the platinum anode (R1) prevented the accumulation of adverse forms of nitrogen, including nitrite and ammonia. The increase in electric current density affected also a lower number of denitrifying bacteria (MPN) in the biofilm in both reactors (R1 and R2). Metal oxides accumulated on the surface of the cathode had a toxic effect upon microorganisms and impaired the production of a hydrogen donor.

Anaerobic rotating disc batch reactor nutrient removal process enhanced by volatile fatty acid addition

RBC effluent needs further treatment because of water-quality standards requiring low nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. It may be achieved by using reactors with biomass immobilized on the fillings surface as post-denitrification biofilm reactors. Due to the lack of organic matter in treated wastewater, the introduction of external carbon sources becomes necessary. The new attached growth bioreactor – anaerobic rotating disc batch reactor (ARDBR) – was examined as a post-denitrification reactor. The impact of selected volatile fatty acids on nutrient removal efficiency in an ARDBR was studied. The biofilm was developing on totally submerged discs mounted coaxially on a vertical shaft. Acetic, propionic, butyric and caproic acids were applied. Wastewaters were removed from the reactors after 24-h treatment, together with the excess solids. In the ARDBR tank, there was no biomass in the suspended form at the beginning of the treatment process. Acids with a higher number of carbon atoms (butyric and caproic) were the most efficient in denitrification process. The highest phosphorus removal efficiency was noted in the ARDBR with butyric and propionic acids. The lowest unitary consumption of the external source of carbon in denitrification was recorded for acetic acid, whereas the highest one for caproic acid.

PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL IN FILTERS FILLED WITH LWA MADE OF FLY ASHES

The effectiveness of phosphorus removal in vertical-flow filters with double-layer filling composed of light weight aggregate made of fly ashes from sewage sludge thermal treatment (FASSTT LWA) and gravel was determined. Synthetic wastewaters containing 7.36 mg/L of phosphorus were fed into filter columns filled with gravel and FASSTT LWA (gravel was the bed’s lower layer, whereas the top layer of the FASSTT LWA constituted 0, 12, 25, 50, and 100% of the depth of the column) at hydraulic loads from 0.003, to 0.007 m/d. The study demonstrated that the efficiency of phosphorus removal depends on the ratio between the gravel and FASSTT LWA. Phosphorus removal is mainly due to adsorption on the surface of the filter filling. The highest phosphorus removal rate was achieved in the filter column with 50% FASSTT LWA and 50% gravel content, irrespective of the hydraulic load applied. The study confirmed the possibility of using FASSTT LWA to produce granular filling and application as the filling of filter columns used for the treatment of wastewaters containing significant concentration of phosphorus.

The Influence of Electrical Current Density and Type of the External Source of Carbon on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Efficiency Removal in the Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor

This work presents the results of a study on the effect of electrical current density (53, 105, 158 and 210 mA/m2), type of the external source of carbon (citric acid, potassium bicarbonate), and C/NNO3 ratio (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5) on the effectiveness of nitrogen and phosphorus removal from synthetic wastewater with physicochemical parameters typical of municipal sewage subjected to bio-treatment in the highly efficient system for organic compounds removal ensuring efficient course of the nitrification process. The denitrification efficiency was found to depend on the type and dose of carbon and on the electrical current density. Higher values of this parameter were determined in the reactor with citric acid than in one with potassium bicarbonate used as carbon sources. Total phosphorus was removed in the processes of electrocoagulation and biomass growth. Higher efficiency of dephosphatation was achieved in the reactor with electrical current passage than in the reactor without it. The type of carbon source had little effect on the dephosphatation efficiency. The use of electrical current density of 210 mA/m2 and citric acid as a carbon source with C/N=1.5 allowed achieving 87.61(±1.6)% efficiency of denitrification and 97.69(±2.1)% efficiency of dephosphatation.