Y. Fernández-Nava

Denitrification of high nitrate concentration wastewater using alternative carbon sources.

The use of different organic carbon sources in the denitrification of wastewater containing 2500 mg nitrates/L in a SBR was studied. Three alternative sources of carbon were tested: wastewater from a sweet factory, a residue from a soft drinks factory and a residue from a dairy plant. The first two are sugar-rich, whereas the third presents a high content in lactic acid. Maximum specific denitrification rates of between 42 and 48 mg NO(3)-N/g VSS h were obtained. The effluents were nitrate-free and very low COD concentrations were obtained in 4-6h reaction time, especially with the sugar-rich carbon sources. The values of the denitrifier net yield coefficient were higher than when using methanol (0.93-1.75 g VSS(formed)/g NO(x)-N(reduced)). The lowest value was obtained using the lactic acid-rich residue. The optimum COD/N ratios varied between 4.6 for the lactic acid-rich carbon source and 5.5-6.5 for the sugar-rich carbon sources.

Denitrification of wastewater containing high nitrate and calcium concentrations

The removal of nitrate from rinse wastewater generated in the stainless steel manufacturing process by denitrification in a sequential batch reactor (SBR) was studied. Two different inocula from wastewater treatment plants were tested. The use of an inoculum previously acclimated to high nitrate concentrations led to complete denitrification in 6h (denitrification rate: 22.8mg NO3- -N/gVSSh), using methanol as carbon source for a COD/N ratio of 4 and for a content of calcium in the wastewater of 150mg/L. Higher calcium concentrations led to a decrease in the biomass growth rate and in the denitrification rate. The optimum COD/N ratio was found to be 3.4, achieving 98% nitrate removal in 7h at a maximum rate of 30.4mg NO3- -N/gVSSh and very low residual COD in the effluent.

Optimization of biogas production from cattle manure by pre-treatment with ultrasound and co-digestion with crude glycerin

Biogas production by co-digestion of cattle manure with crude glycerin obtained from biodiesel production was studied after pre-treatment of the cattle manure or mixtures of cattle manure with different amounts of added glycerin with ultrasound. Batch experiments with 1,750 mL of medium containing 1,760 g of screened cattle manure or mixtures of cattle manure (screened or ground) and 70-140 mL or crude glycerin were incubated under mesophilic and thermophilic condition in stirred tank reactors. Under mesophilic conditions, the addition of 4% glycerin to screened manure increased biogas production by up to 400%. Application of sonication (20 kHz, 0.1 kW, and 4 min) to a mixture of manure+4% glycerin increased production of biogas by up to 800% compared to untreated manure. The best results were obtained under thermophilic conditions using sonicated mixtures of ground cattle manure with 6% added glycerin (348 L methane/kg COD removed were obtained).

Coagulation-flocculation as a pretreatment process at a landfill leachate nitrification-denitrification plant

The main aim of this research work was to study the possible application of coagulation-flocculation as a pretreatment process for young landfill leachate in order to prevent fouling in the ultrafiltration membranes employed for the separation of biomass in the biological plant. Jar-test experiments were carried out to determine the optimum conditions for the removal of turbidity colour and organic matter. The coagulants ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate and aluminium polychloride (PAX) were tested, along with different types of flocculants (anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes). Optimum pH values were around 4.0 and 6.0 for ferric chloride and aluminium sulphate, respectively. It was not necessary to alter the pH of the leachate when using PAX, as the optimum value was found to be similar to that of the leachate (around 8.3). Optimum dosages were 0.4 g Fe(3+)/L, 0.8 g Al(3+)/L and 4 g PAX/L, although there was not much difference in the results for lower dosage of PAX. The best results were found with this coagulant, obtaining 98% turbidity removal, 91% colour removal and 26% COD removal. When flocculants were also added, the results were similar to those found when adding only coagulants, although a considerable increase in the settling rate was obtained. The volume of the sludge generated represents around 4.5-5.0% when using ferric chloride or aluminium sulphate, and 15% when using aluminium polychloride.

Physico-chemical and biological treatment of MSW landfill leachate

This paper analyses the evolution of the physico-chemical characteristics of the leachate from the Central Landfill of Asturias (Spain), which has been operating since 1986, as well as different treatment options. The organic pollutant load of the leachate, expressed as chemical oxygen demand (COD), reached maximum values during the first year of operation of the landfill (around 80,000 mg/L), gradually decreasing over subsequent years to less than 5000 mg/L. The concentration of ammonium, however, has not decreased, presenting values of up to 2000 mg/L. When feasible, recirculation can greatly decrease the organic matter content of the leachate to values of 1500-1600 mg COD/L. Applying anaerobic treatment to leachates with a COD between 11,000 and 16,000 mg/L, removal efficiencies of 80-88% were obtained for organic loading rates of 7 kg COD/m3d. For leachates with lower COD (4000-6000 mg/L), the efficiency decreased to around 60% for organic loading rates of 1 kg COD/m3d. Applying coagulation-flocculation with iron trichloride or with aluminium polychloride, it was possible to reduce the non-biodegradable organic matter by 73-62% when treating old landfill leachate (COD: 4800 mg/L, BOD5: 670 mg/L), also reducing turbidity and colour by more than 97%. It is likewise possible to reduce the non-biodegradable organic matter that remains after biological treatment by adsorption with activated carbon, although adsorption capacities are usually low (from 15 to 150 mg COD/g adsorbent). As regards ammonium nitrogen, this can be reduced to final effluent values of 5 mg/L by means of nitrification/denitrification and to values of 126 mg/L by stripping at pH 12 and 48 h of stirring.

Methane production from cattle manure supplemented with crude glycerin from the biodiesel industry in CSTR and IBR.

The aim of the present research work was to optimise biogas production from cattle manure by adding crude glycerin from the biodiesel industry. For this purpose, 6%v/v crude glycerin (the optimum amount according to previous research) was added to ground manure and the mixture was sonicated to enhance biodegradability prior to anaerobic co-digestion at 55 °C. Two different reactors were used: continuously stirred (CSTR) and induced bed (IBR). The methanol and pure glycerin contents of the crude glycerin used in this study were 5.6% and 49.4% (w/w), respectively. The best results when operating in CSTR were obtained for an organic loading rate (OLR) of 5.4 kg COD/m(3) day, obtaining 53.2m(3) biogas/t wet waste and 80.7% COD removal. When operating in IBR, the best results were obtained for an OLR of 6.44 kg COD/m(3)day, obtaining 89.6% COD removal and a biogas production of 56.5m(3)/t wet waste.

Thermophilic co-digestion of cattle manure and food waste supplemented with crude glycerin in induced bed reactor (IBR)

The aim of the present research work was to boost biogas production from cattle manure (CM) by adding food waste (FW) and crude glycerin (Gly) from the biodiesel industry as co-substrates. For this purpose, different quantities of FW and Gly were added to CM and co-digested in an induced bed reactor (IBR) at 55 °C. Sonication pre-treatment was implemented in the CM+Gly mixture, applying 550 kJ/kg TS to enhance the biodegradability of these co-substrates. The best results were obtained with mixtures of 87/10/3 (CM/FW/Gly) (w/w) operating at an organic loading rate of 7 g COD/L day, obtaining 92% COD removal, a specific methane yield of 640 L CH4/kg VS and a methane production rate of 2.6L CH4/L day. These results doubled those obtained in the co-digestion of CM and FW without the addition of Gly (330 L CH4/kg VS and 1.2L CH4/L day).

Anoxic-aerobic treatment of the liquid fraction of cattle manure.

Cattle manure from a dairy farm was treated in order to reduce its pollution potential. The manure came from a farm with 120 cows kept in stables in a free stall barn. As pretreatment, the manure is usually filtered on the farm using a screw press separator with a 0.5 mm mesh. Approximately 70% of the total filtered volume passes through the screen, thus constituting the liquid fraction. This fraction, with a composition of around 64,500 mg COD/l, 5770 mg total-N/l and 800 mg total-P/l, was subjected to centrifugation followed by a two-step biological treatment (anoxic-aerobic) to reduce organic matter (COD), nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Centrifugation led to the following removal efficiencies: 35% total solids, 60% COD, 75% total phosphorus and 20% total nitrogen (mainly organic nitrogen). With the subsequent anoxic-aerobic treatment, average removal efficiencies of 85% for COD, 90% for total phosphorus and 75% for total nitrogen were achieved.

Colour, turbidity and COD removal from old landfill leachate by coagulation-flocculation treatment

The application of different coagulants and flocculants to leachate from an old landfill to determine the optimum conditions for removal of organic matter, colour and turbidity is studied. Ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate, aluminium polychloride (PAX) and polyacrylamide polyelectrolytes were tested. Higher pollutant removals (73% COD, 98% colour and 100% turbidity) were obtained using ferric chloride at pH 5.0—5.5 and for a dosage of 0.6 g Fe l— 1. The volume of sludge generated after centrifugation represents about 4.0—4.6% when ferric chloride or aluminium sulphate is used, and 10% when employing aluminium polychloride. When flocculants were also added, the results obtained were similar to those found when adding only coagulants, although a considerable increase in the settling rate was obtained.

Differences in soluble COD and ammonium when applying ultrasound to primary, secondary and mixed sludge

Ultrasound treatment is often applied to enhance the anaerobic digestion of sludge. Optimal conditions for organic matter solubilisation of primary, secondary and mixed sludge were assessed by implementing ultrasound disruption at different specific energies (from 3,500 to 21,000 kJ/kgTS). The variation in soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) was monitored following the treatment, and after a subsequent fermentation (24 h, 37 °C). The effect of the treatment was clearly more pronounced in secondary sludge than in the other types of sludge. Relatively minimal values in solubility were found when applying ultrasound at different energies depending on the sludge (3,500-7,000 kJ/kgTS in primary sludge and 10,500-14,000 kJ/kgTS in secondary sludge). This minimal value was not so noticeable in mixed sludge. The addition of inoculum was not required after ultrasound disruption in order to perform the subsequent fermentation. After this final stage, no general pattern in terms of sCOD was observed. Increases and decreases were conditioned by the coverage of the ultrasound irradiation; NH4+-N values increased notably during the fermentation.