Kok Kwang Ng

Sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater with high salinity.

In this study, pharmaceutical wastewater with high total dissolved solids (TDSs) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) content was treated through a sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment process. For the anaerobic process, an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was applied, and a COD removal efficiency of 41.3±2.2% was achieved with an organic loading rate of 8.11±0.31gCOD/L/d and a hydraulic retention time of 48h. To evaluate the salinity effect on the anaerobic process, salts in the wastewater were removed by ion exchange resin, and adverse effect of salinity was observed with a TDS concentration above 14.92g/L. To improve the anaerobic effluent quality, the UASB effluent was further treated by a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Both the UASB+MBR and UASB+SBR systems achieved excellent organic removal efficiency, with respective COD removal of 94.7% and 91.8%. The UASB+MBR system showed better performance in both organic removal and nitrification.

Investigation of Intertidal Wetland Sediment as a Novel Inoculation Source for Anaerobic Saline Wastewater Treatment

Biological treatment of saline wastewater is considered unfavorable due to salinity inhibition on microbial activity. In this study, intertidal wetland sediment (IWS) collected from a high saline environment was investigated as a novel inoculation source for anaerobic treatment of saline pharmaceutical wastewater. Two parallel lab-scale anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (AnSBR) were set up to compare the organic removal potential of IWS with conventional anaerobic digested sludge (ADS). Under steady-state condition, IWS reactor (R(i)) showed organic reduction performance significantly superior to that of ADS reactor (R(a)), achieving COD removal efficiency of 71.4 ± 3.7 and 32.3 ± 6.1%, respectively. In addition, as revealed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, a higher relative abundance of methanogenic populations was detected in R(i). A further 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing test was conducted to understand both the bacterial and archaeal community populations in the two AnSBRs. A predominance of halophilic/tolerant microorganisms (class Clostridia of bacteria, genera Methanosarcina, and Methanohalophilus of archaea) in R(i) enhanced its organic removal efficiency. Moreover, several microbial groups related with degradation of hardly biodegradable compounds (PAHs, n-alkenes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and alkanes, etc.) were detected in the IWS. All these findings indicated that IWS is a promising inoculation source for anaerobic treatment of saline wastewater.

Bio-entrapped membrane reactor and salt marsh sediment membrane bioreactor for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater: Treatment performance and microbial communities

In this study, a bio-entrapped membrane reactor (BEMR) and a salt marsh sediment membrane bioreactor (SMSMBR) were evaluated to study the organic treatment performance of pharmaceutical wastewater. The influences of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and salinity were also studied. The conventional biomass in the BEMR cannot tolerate well of the hypersaline conditions, resulting in total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal efficiency of 54.2-68.0%. On the other hand, microorganisms in the SMSMBR, which was seeded from coastal shore, strived and was able to degrade the complex organic in the presence of salt effectively, achieving 74.7-90.9% of TCOD removal efficiencies. Marine microorganisms able to degrade recalcitrant compounds and utilize hydrocarbon compounds were found in the SMSMBR, which resulted in higher organic removal efficiency than the BEMR. However, specific nitrifying activity decreased and inhibited due to the saline effect that led to poor ammonia nitrogen removal.

Pyrosequencing reveals microbial community profile in anaerobic bio-entrapped membrane reactor for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.

In this study, pharmaceutical wastewater with high salinity and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) was treated by an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and an anaerobic bio-entrapped membrane reactor (AnBEMR). The microbial populations and communities were analyzed using the 454 pyrosequencing method. The hydraulic retention time (HRT), membrane flux and mean cell residence time (MCRT) were controlled at 30.6h, 6L/m(2)h and 100d, respectively. The results showed that the AnBEMR achieved higher TCOD removal efficiency and greater biogas production compared to the AnMBR. Through DNA pyrosequencing analysis, both the anaerobic MBRs showed similar dominant groups of bacteria and archaea. However, phylum Elusimicrobia of bacteria was only detected in the AnBEMR; the higher abundance of dominant archaeal genus Methanimicrococcus found in the AnBEMR could play an important role in degradation of the major organic pollutant (i.e., trimethylamine) present in the pharmaceutical wastewater.

Removal of Toxic Component of Wastewater by Anaerobic Processes

Abstract This chapter discusses the removal of toxic compounds that commonly exist in industrial wastewater by anaerobic processes. Generally, toxic compounds generated during industrial manufacturing activities can be classified into inorganic and organic groups. Anaerobic microorganisms, which are the key factor in the anaerobic degradation process, can effectively degrade the majority of toxic compounds for cell growth through various metabolic pathways. Anaerobic treatment of toxic compounds in wastewater has become a viable technology because of the rapid development of high-rate bioreactors, such as upflow anaerobic sludge blanket, expanded granular sludge bed, and anaerobic baffled reactors. In addition, combined processes are being intensively attempted to offer more effective and economically feasible processes for toxic compounds reduction.