Katarzyna Jaromin-Gleń

Application of Gas Sensor Arrays in Assessment of Wastewater Purification Effects

A gas sensor array consisting of eight metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) type gas sensors was evaluated for its ability for assessment of the selected wastewater parameters. Municipal wastewater was collected in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in a primary sedimentation tank and was treated in a laboratory-scale sequential batch reactor (SBR). A comparison of the gas sensor array (electronic nose) response to the standard physical-chemical parameters of treated wastewater was performed. To analyze the measurement results, artificial neural networks were used. E-nose—gas sensors array and artificial neural networks proved to be a suitable method for the monitoring of treated wastewater quality. Neural networks used for data validation showed high correlation between the electronic nose readouts and: (I) chemical oxygen demand (COD) (r = 0.988); (II) total suspended solids (TSS) (r = 0.938); (III) turbidity (r = 0.940); (IV) pH (r = 0.554); (V) nitrogen compounds: N-NO3 (r = 0.958), N-NO2 (r = 0.869) and N-NH3 (r = 0.978); (VI) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) (r = 0.987). Good correlation of the abovementioned parameters are observed under stable treatment conditions in a laboratory batch reactor.

Comparison of the dynamics of natural biodegradation of petrol and diesel oil in soil

AbstractContamination of soil with petroleum products is a major environmental problem. Therefore, one of the issues related to environmental protection is assessment of the ability of soil microbial populations to biodegrade petroleum-derived substances. The aim of the study was to compare the dynamics and fractionation of carbon isotopes during biodegradation of selected petroleum products (petrol and diesel) in soil characterised by optimal humidity for plants. The analyses were performed on soil material sampled from the arable layer of a fertile soil (chernozem) in central Poland. The soil samples were treated with two petroleum substances, i.e. unleaded 95-octane petrol and diesel fuel. The dynamics of changes was assessed by monitoring carbon dioxide content and oxygen content in the headspace over the soil surface. Additionally, the ratio of δ13C carbon isotopes was measured in the substrates added (petrol and diesel) and in CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. In summary, it should be concluded that th...

Bioindication assessment of activated sludge Adaptation in a Lab-Scale Experiment

Abstract The adaptation of activated sludge from the Hajdow sewage treatment plant in a laboratory SBR was studied. The structure of the ciliate assembly was considered as a criterion. 32 ciliate species were found during the experiment. The composition and changes in the ciliate community structure during the process of activated sludge adaptation was examined. In the process of adaptation, reduction was observed in the number of ciliate species together with an increase in assembly total abundance. The decrease in the Shannon diversity index and equitability index in the adaptation process was observed. In the process of adaptation, two states of ciliate assembly were marked out - unstable transient period and stable period. During the transient period, reduction of ammonium utilization efficiency down to 50% and its subsequent increase up to 80% in the stable period were observed. In the transient period, the Simpson dominance index remained low but increased in the stable period. At a temperature of 10°C, the transient period lasted from six to nine days. After the stabilization process, the diversity of the ciliate assemblage remained at a lower level. Rarefaction methods showed that the number of potential ecological niches of ciliate amounted to 30 in the adaptation period, whereas there were only 15-20 ecological niches in adapted sludge.

Evaluating Soil Moisture Status Using an e-Nose

The possibility of distinguishing different soil moisture levels by electronic nose (e-nose) was studied. Ten arable soils of various types were investigated. The measurements were performed for air-dry (AD) soils stored for one year, then moistened to field water capacity and finally dried within a period of 180 days. The volatile fingerprints changed during the course of drying. At the end of the drying cycle, the fingerprints were similar to those of the initial AD soils. Principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis showed that e-nose results can be used to distinguish soil moisture. It was also shown that different soils can give different e-nose signals at the same moistures.

Effect of drilling mud addition on activated sludge and processes in sequencing batch reactors

AbstractLaboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR) with activated sludge were used for co-treatment of drilling mud and municipal wastewater. The influence of two doses of drilling mud, 1% (SBR2) and 3% (SBR3) of total added wastewater volume, on wastewater treatment efficiency and community of eukaryotes in activated sludge was examined. Addition of drilling mud significantly decreased the efficiency of TSS removal in SBR2 and SBR3 (from 97% in control bioreactor SBR1 to 75% and 49%, respectively), COD removal (from 93% to 57% and 48%, respectively) and removal (from 93% to 56% and 48%, respectively). Values of TSS concentration in outflow from SBR2 and SBR3 greatly exceeded the limit value appointed for the wastewater discharged into the environment. Drilling mud addition led to decrease in population and diversity of eukaryotes’ groups in activated sludge, which was reflected by changes in sludge biotic index (SBI). It amounted to 10 in all the SBRs at the beginning of the experiment, and in SBR1...

Community Composition and Abundance of Protozoa Under Different Concentration Of Nitrogen Compounds at “Hajdow” Wastewater Treatment Plant / Zbiorowiska Pierwotniaków I Ich Liczebność W Oczyszczalni Ścieków „Hajdów” Przy Różnych Stężeniach Związków Azotu

Abstract The protists notably ciliates and testate amoebas in the conditions of modernized wastewater treatment plants “Hajdow” (Lublin, Poland) and the nitrogen removal efficiency were studied. Sampling took place every week during the period of August-September 2010. The total of 31 taxa of ciliates and 3 taxa of testate amoebas were identified. Most of the species were registered during the whole research period. Significant abundance reached the following species: Acineria uncinata, Aspidisca cicada, Aspidisca lynceus, Vorticella aquadulcis, Vorticella infusionum, Arcella vulgaris, Euglypha acanthophora and Pyxidicula operculata. In September increase in efficiency of nitrogen removal process was registered. The research shows that the increase of nitrogen reduction efficiency was accompanied by increase of ciliates quantity, mainly due to peritrichid ciliates. Abstrakt Przedstawiono analizę zgrupowań pierwotniaków obejmującą orzęski oraz ameby skorupkowe, zasiedlające kolejne urządzenia głównego ciągu technologicznego oczyszczalni ścieków „Hajdów” na tle zmian w stężeniach związków azotu. Badania prowadzono po modernizacji części biologicznej realizowanej w celu podniesienia skuteczności usuwania ze ścieków związków biogennych, a w szczególności związków azotu. Pobór próbek prowadzony był raz w tygodniu w okresie sierpień-wrzesień 2010 roku. W badanym materiale biologicznym wyodrębniono 31 gatunków orzęsków oraz 3 gatunki ameb skorupkowych. Większość ze wspomnianych gatunków pierwotniaków odnotowywana była przez cały okres badań. Najbardziej licznie w analizowanym materiale biologicznym reprezentowane były następujące gatunki: Acineria uncinata, Aspidiscacicada, Aspidisca lynceus, Vorticella aquadulcis, Vorticella infusionum, Arcella vulgaris, Euglyphaacanthophora i Pyxidicula operculata. We wrześniu odnotowany został wzrost skuteczności procesu usuwania związków azotu. Prezentowane badania wskazują, iż wzrostowi stopnia usuwania ze ścieków związków azotu towarzyszył wzrost ilości orzęsków odnoszący się głównie do form peritricha.

Assessment of batch bioreactor odour nuisance using an e-nose

AbstractThe method of assessing a smell nuisance of the SBR laboratory bioreactor using a calibrated gas sensor array (e-nose) is described in the article. The SBR bioreactor is used to remove organic carbon and nutrients and can contribute to the emission of smell nuisance compounds. Two measurement devices were used as an information source regarding the presence of smell nuisance gases: an array consisting of 8 MOS-type gas sensors and a dynamic olfactometer. The research covered the stage of a normal bioreactor performance and simulation of the aeration system failure. With the gas sensor array, a static response has been recorded for air samples above the surface of treated wastewater. The dynamic olfactometer Ecoma TO-7 was simultaneously used in order to measure odour concentration with the “yes–no” method, according to EN-13725:2007. Comparative analyses were carried out with artificial neural networks in the statistical program. The research conducted indicates that normal bioreactor performance ...

Short-term Influence of Drilling Fluid on Ciliates from Activated Sludge in Sequencing Batch Reactors

Spent drilling muds are the liquid residues of rock drilling operations. Due to a high concentration of suspended solids and potentially detrimental chemical properties, they can negatively affect microorganisms participating in wastewater treatment processes. We evaluated the addition of a potassium-polymer drilling fluid (DF) to activated sludge in laboratory sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) for municipal wastewater treatment. Ciliate assemblage, the most dynamic component of eukaryotes in activated sludge, and which is highly sensitive to changes in the system, was evaluated. The average ciliate abundance dropped by about 51% (SBR 2; 1% DF added) and 33% (SBR 3; 3% DF added) in comparison to the control (SBR 1; wastewater only). A decrease in the total number of ciliate species during the experiment was observed, from 25 to 24 in SBR 2 and from 17 to 13 in SBR 3. Moreover, a drop in the number of dominant (>100 individuals mL) ciliate species was observed during the experiment-from eight in the control to five in SBR 2 and four in SBR 3-signaling noticeable changes in the quantitative structure of ciliate species. The species analyzed showed different responses to DF addition. The most sensitive was , which is bacteriovorus. In contrast, two predators, and , showed no reaction to DF addition. Our results indicate that addition of potassium-polymer DF, in doses of 1 to 3% of the treated wastewater volume, had no toxic effects on ciliates, but qualitative and quantitative changes in their community were observed.

Changes in the Structure of Activated Sludge Protozoa Community at the Different Oxygen Condition / Zmiany W Strukturze Zbiorowiska Pierwotniaków Osadu Czynnego W Zróżnicowanych Warunkach Tlenowych

Abstract Several experiments were performed in the laboratory condition using an SBR bioreactor modelling the expected conditions, created by malfunction of certain bioreactor elements, thus the different oxygen condition. In the course of the experiments, the concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, nitrates(III), nitrates(V), TOC, and TC were systematically measured. Besides physico-chemical parameters, the structure of activated sludge community was analyzed. In the samples, the number and species composition of protozoa (ciliates) were determined. Each of the three measuring series conducted for various types of process conditions was repeated three times. The activated sludge used for inoculation of the bioreactor was sampled at Hajdow WWTP in Lublin. The results obtained are the average of three repetitions of every experimental series. On this ground, we may conclude that the number of ciliates shows a high correlation with the O2 concentration, pH and TOC. Abstrakt W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań prowadzonych w laboratoryjnym bioreaktorze SBR, symulującym warunki występujące w przypadku awarii urządzeń stanowiących wyposażenie bioreaktora (systemu mieszania i systemu napowietrzania). Analizowano skład chemiczny ścieków, w tym stężenia związków azotu (azot amonowy, azotany(III) i azotany(V)), a także stężenia związków organicznych wyrażanych jako ogólny węgiel organiczny (OWO) i węgiel całkowity. Oprócz wskaźników chemicznych analizowany był również zespół organizmów osadu czynnego. W pobieranych próbkach określano ilość pierwotniaków (orzęski) w wymienionej grupie. Każdą z trzech serii pomiarowych prowadzonych dla różnych warunków procesowych powtarzano trzykrotnie. W eksperymencie wykorzystano osad czynny pobierany z oczyszczalni ścieków Hajdów w Lublinie. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników badań można stwierdzić, że liczebności analizowanych zbiorowisk orzęsków wykazują związek ze stężeniem tlenu, pH oraz wartością OWO.

Short-term Influence of Two Types of Drilling Fluids on Wastewater Treatment Rate and Eukaryotic Organisms of Activated Sludge in Sequencing Batch Reactors

This work presents the results of studies on the impact of spent drilling fluids cotreated with municipal wastewater on the rate of the wastewater treatment process and the structure of the community of eukaryotic organisms inhabiting an activated sludge. The studies were conducted under laboratory conditions in sequencing batch reactors. The effect of added polymer-potassium drilling fluid (DF1) and polymer drilling fluid (DF2) at dosages of 1 and 3% of wastewater volume on the rate of removal of total suspended solids, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, and the content of total and ammonium nitrogen were analyzed, taking into account the values of these parameters measured at the end of each operating cycle. In addition to the impacts on the aforementioned physicochemical indices, the influence of drilling fluid on the biomass of various groups of eukaryotes in activated sludge was analyzed. The impact of the drilling fluid was highly dependent on its type and dosage. A noticeable slowdown in the rate of the wastewater treatment process and a negative effect on the organisms were observed after the addition of DF2. This effect intensified after an increase in fluid dose. However, no statistically significant negative changes were observed after the introduction of DF1. Conversely, the removal rate of some of the analyzed pollutant increased.