Qinghong Wang

Nitrate removal from groundwater by cooperating heterotrophic with autotrophic denitrification in a biofilm–electrode reactor

An intensified biofilm-electrode reactor (IBER) combining heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification was developed for treatment of nitrate contaminated groundwater. The reactor was evaluated with synthetic groundwater (NO(3)(-)-N50 mg L(-1)) under different hydraulic retention times (HRTs), carbon to nitrogen ratios (C/N) and electric currents (I). The experimental results demonstrate that high nitrate and nitrite removal efficiency (100%) were achieved at C/N = 1, HRT = 8h, and I = 10 mA. C/N ratios were reduced from 1 to 0.5 and the applied electric current was changed from 10 to 100 mA, showing that the optimum running condition was C/N = 0.75 and I = 40 mA, under which over 97% of NO(3)(-)-N was removed and organic carbon (methanol) was completely consumed in treated water. Simultaneously, the denitrification mechanism in this system was analyzed through pH variation in effluent. The CO(2) produced from the anode acted as a good pH buffer, automatically controlling pH in the reaction zone. The intensified biofilm-electrode reactor developed in the study was effective for the treatment of groundwater polluted by nitrate.

Study on a fixed zeolite bioreactor for anaerobic digestion of ammonium-rich swine wastes.

In this study, a fixed zeolite bioreactor was developed for the anaerobic digestion of ammonium-rich swine wastes (NH(4)(+)-N=3770 mg/l). To investigate the performance of the reactor, a sunken zeolite bioreactor and a bioreactor without zeolite were used as controls. The new bioreactor exhibited good performance, with startup time on the 14th day and methane production of 178.5 ml/g-VS during all 32 days of the experiment at 35°C. This bioreactor significantly shortened startup time, enhanced methane gas yield more than twofold and made COD removal more efficient than under the other models. Furthermore, it reduced the inhibition of high ammonium concentration during the anaerobic digestion of ammonium-rich swine wastes via effective ammonium removal and the immobilisation of microorganisms. Because of its simple structure and good performance, the fixed zeolite bioreactor can be recommended for future use.

Adsorption of high ammonium nitrogen from wastewater using a novel ceramic adsorbent and the evaluation of the ammonium-adsorbed-ceramic as fertilizer

A novel ceramic adsorbent was developed to adsorb ammonium from high concentration ammonium contaminated wastewater. Typical gardening cultivation mediums in Japan-Kanuma clay and Akadama clay were used to synthesize the ceramic adsorbent. Static batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various parameters such as contact time, initial ammonium concentration, adsorbent dosage, and competing cations during the ammonium adsorption process. The results revealed that the Freundlich isotherm model fitted better with the adsorption process than the Langmuir model, and the adsorption process was well described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum nitrogen adsorption capacity of the ceramic adsorbent was 75.5 mg g(-1) at an initial NH(4)(+)-N concentration of 10,000 mg L(-1), dosage of 20 g L(-1), and contact time of 480 min. Results demonstrated that the low-cost ceramic adsorbent directly used as nitrogen fertilizer was feasible for its high ammonium nitrogen content, nontoxic effect on the environment and excellent soil properties.

Photocatalytic degradation of waste activated sludge using a circulating bed photocatalytic reactor for improving biohydrogen production.

In this study, a sloping trough circulating bed photocatalytic reactor (STCBPR) was developed to degrade waste activated sludge (WAS). Effects of the four factors (shape of trough, circulating speed, TiO(2) dosage and dilution multiple of WAS) on the photocatalytic degradation of WAS were examined. Under the optimum conditions, 45% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and 47% of the volatile solids (VS) removal were achieved in 7.5-fold dilution after reaction for 8h. Moreover, the WAS was pretreated by STCBPR and then fermented to produce hydrogen. The result showed that the cumulative hydrogen production from photocatalysis pretreated WAS was 3.6 times higher than that from UV-light pretreated WAS, and 17 times higher than that from raw WAS. Therefore, it could be confirmed that the STCBPR has higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency for WAS, and photocatalytic pretreatment could enhance the biohydrogen production.

Treatment of ammonium-rich swine waste in modified porphyritic andesite fixed-bed anaerobic bioreactor.

In this study, a modified porphyritic andesite (WRS) was developed as ammonium adsorbent and bed material for the anaerobic digestion of ammonium-rich swine waste. The performance in bioreactors with modified WRS, natural WRS, calcium chloride and no additives was investigated. The bioreactor with modified WRS exhibited the best performance, with start-up time on the 7th day, methane yield of 359.71 ml/g-VS, and COD removal of 67.99% during all 44 days of the experiment at 35°C. The effective ammonium adsorption and essential ions dissociation for microorganisms by modified WRS, as well as the immobilization of microbial on the surface of the modified WRS play a great role on the high efficiency anaerobic digestion of ammonium-rich swine waste.

Potential and optimization of two-phase anaerobic digestion of oil refinery waste activated sludge and microbial community study

Oil refinery waste activated sludge produced from oil wastewater biological treatment is a major industrial sludge. Two-phase anaerobic digestion of oil refinery waste activated sludge was studied for the first time. Thermal pretreatment under 170 °C is effective on sludge solubilization. At the optimum hydrolytic-acidogenic condition which was pH of 6.5, temperature of 55 °C and HRT of 2 days, 2754 mg/L volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were produced and acetic acid and butyric acid were the key components. Comparative studies of single-phase and two-phase anaerobic digestion in terms of organic removal, biogas production and methane concentration were conducted. The cumulative methane production and soluble COD (SCOD) removal efficiency in the two-phase system were 228 mL/g COD added and 77.8%, respectively, which were 1.6 and 2.1 times higher than those in single-phase anaerobic digestion. Such improved performance is attributed to intensification of dominant microbial population in separated reactors. Caloramator, Ureibacillus, Dechloromonas, Petrobacter, and T78 played important roles in hydrolytic-acidification and oil-organics degradation. Syntrophic bacteria in the family Porphyromonadaceae and the genus Anaerobranca provide acetate for methanogen. The results demonstrated the potential and operating condition of two-phase anaerobic digestion in treatment of oil refinery waste activated sludge.

Evaluation of an up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor containing diatomite and maifanite for the improved treatment of petroleum wastewater

Novel diatomite (R1) and maifanite (R2) were utilized as support materials in an up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor for the treatment of recalcitrant petroleum wastewater. At high organic loadings (11kg-COD/m3·d), these materials were efficient at reducing COD (92.7% and 93.0%) in comparison with controls (R0) (88.4%). Higher percentages of large granular sludge (0.6mm or larger) were observed for R1 (30.3%) and R2 (24.6%) compared with controls (22.6%). The larger portion of granular sludge provided a favorable habitat that resulted in greater microorganism diversity. Increased filamentous bacterial communities are believed to have promoted granular sludge formation promoting a conductive environment for stimulation methanogenic Archaea. These communities had enhanced pH tolerance and produced more methane. This study illustrates a new potential use of diatomite and maifanite as support materials in UASB reactors for increased efficiency when treating refractory wastewaters.

Efficiencies and mechanisms of ZSM5 zeolites loaded with cerium, iron, or manganese oxides for catalytic ozonation of nitrobenzene in water

Discharge of industrial wastewater causes water pollution. It is therefore necessary to treat wastewater prior to discharge. Catalytic ozonation processes (COP) using ZSM5 zeolites loaded with metallic (Ce, Fe, or Mn) oxides to remove nitrobenzene from water were investigated. The total organic carbon (TOC) removal by the COP treatment with NaZSM5-38, HZSM5-38, and NaZSM5-100 were increased by 6.7%, 23.1%, and 19.8%, respectively, in comparison with single ozonation efficiency (39.2%). The loadings of Ce, Fe, or Mn oxides increased the catalytic activity relative to ZSM5 zeolites alone. The Ce loaded material (Ce/NaZSM5-38) had the highest TOC removal (86.3%). The different-metallic-oxides loaded zeolites exhibited different chemical processes during the removal of nitrobenzene from water. During COP treatment, NaZSM5-38 zeolites removed nitrobenzene mainly via OH mediated oxidation. HZSM5-38 and NaZSM5-100 zeolites showed powerful adsorption toward nitrobenzene. Both adsorption and direct ozonation contribute the TOC removal in their early uses. The OH mediated oxidation dominates the TOC removal process as the adsorption became saturated after multiple uses. Surface SiO bonds and/or SiO(H)Al structures are the active sites for ZSM5 zeolites. Efficient surface dispersion of the metallic oxides enhances the catalytic activity. This study shows the high potentials of ZSM5 zeolites as catalysts in COP to efficiently treat refractory wastewaters.

Bioremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil

A laboratory study was undertaken to bioremediation crude oil contaminated soil by isolated strains. Pseudomonas strain A as the most superior indigenous biodegrader was selected. At the optimal growth condition of pH 7 and with 5 g/L NaCl, cosubstrate α-lactose, and inorganic salt FeSO4, 82.3% of crude oil degradation efficiency was obtained. Furthermore, characteristics of chemical composition during the biotreatment indicated that saturation hydrocarbons and some aromatics were effectively removed by strain A. N-alkane in crude oil was preferentially degraded, especially those in the range of nC16–nC24. Biodegradation of aromatics depended on benzene ring numbers and complexity of structures.

Refining wastewater treatment using EGSB-BAF system

AbstractThe performance of an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) in combination with a biological aerated filter (BAF) system for petroleum refining wastewater treatment was investigated. The system was monitored for two months at a hydraulic retention time of 17.5 h and a digestion temperature of 34 ± 1°C. The results showed that the total chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) and oil removal efficiencies were up to 90 and 87%, respectively, with the average CODCr and oil concentrations of 85 and 11 mg/L in the system effluent. Moreover, almost 97% of suspended solids (SS) were removed by the system and the effluent SS concentration was only 15 mg/L. The sludge yield coefficient of 0.0036 mg/mgCODCr showed a low excessive sludge production for the EGSB reactor. The excellent treatment performance indicated that this EGSB-BAF system could be appropriate for refining wastewater treatment. Besides, methane yield was only about 0.21 mLCH4/mgCODCr in the EGSB reactor, lower than the theoretical yields. The poor met...