bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimisation of a large WWTP thanks to mathematical modelling
Authors: Printemps C , Baudin A , Dormoy T , Zug M. , Vanrolleghem P.A.
Published: May 2018

Better controlling and optimising the plant's processes has become a priority for WWTP (Wastewater Treatment Plant) managers. The main objective of this project is to develop a simplified mathematical tool able to reproduce and anticipate the behaviour of the Tougas WWTP (Nantes, France). This tool is aimed to be used directly by the managers of the site. The mathematical WWTP model was created using the software WEST®. This paper describes the studied site and the modelling results obtained during the stage of the model calibration and validation. The good simulation results have allowed to show that despite a first very simple description of the WWTP, the model was able to correctly predict the nitrogen composition (ammonia and nitrate) of the effluent and the daily sludge extraction. Then, a second more detailed configuration of the WWTP was implemented. It has allowed to independently study the behaviour of each of four biological trains. Once this first stage will be completely achieved, the remainder of the study will focus on the operational use of a simplified simulator with the purpose of optimising the Tougas WWTP operation.
Cost-effective solutions for sewage treatment in developing countries - the case of Brazil
Authors: Jordão E.P. , Volschan I.
Published: May 2018

Cost-effective solutions are a must in developing countries, not only regarding investment costs, but also in respect to technology and operating practices. With these two goals in mind, in Brazil a particular effort has been directed for the development and application of the Chemical Enhanced Primary Treatment (CEPT) process and of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) process, both followed by complementary secondary treatment.

Both technologies are under current expansion in Brazil. Large CEPT plants have been designed and built, up to 3.7 m3/s average design flow, as well as large UASB reactors, up to 3.0 m3/s average design flow. The applied technologies are cost-effective: they present low investment and efficiencies of BOD removal of up to 50% to 70%. They allow the plant construction in steps, an initial phase with efficiency over the usual primary treatment, and in order to achieve best effluent quality and meet legal water quality standards, a logic upgrade post-treatment can later on be implemented. The higher initial reduction of BOD and TSS also permits savings in construction and operational costs of secondary treatment, due to lower organic load and lower energy consumption.

Sludge represents a particular point of attention: in the cases when the CEPT was used, Chemical Stabilisation of the Sludge (CSS) has also been practiced, eliminating the high construction costs of the digesters, all the plant staying chemically operated. In the cases when the UASB is used preceding secondary treatment, sludge can easily return to the anaerobic vessel, the costly sludge digestion unit being avoided. UASB reactors have practically no equipment in the anaerobic vessel, no energy consumption, low sludge production, and when applied in hot climates as in Brazil, heating devices are not required. The Brazilian experience, some particular cases, special comments on design and different secondary treatment processes are presented in this paper, as a contribution to the discussion of cost and benefits, a prime point to be considered.
Systems analysis in environmental engineering: how far should we go?
Authors: Gujer W.
Published: May 2018

Systems analysis is identified as a unifying topic of environmental engineering. Based on a questionnaire sent out to peers and based on the experience with an advanced systems analysis course the possible content and association of the content with bachelor and master's programs is discussed. At the bachelor's level it is concluded that an array of topics should be introduced more in an inductive way, going along with the discussion of examples. At the master's level it is suggested that a substantial course, which systematically introduces a broad variety of systems analysis tools, is provided. Such a course should go along with the introduction of a simulation tool, which supports application of systems analysis methods.
Optimising the performance of a lab-scale tidal flow reed bed system treating agricultural wastewater
Authors: Zhao Y.Q. , Sun G. , Lafferty C. , Allen S.J.
Published: May 2018

A gravel-based tidal flow reed bed system was operated with three different strategies in order to investigate its optimal performance for the treatment of a high strength agricultural wastewater. According to the three strategies, individual reed beds were saturated and unsaturated with the wastewater for different periods while reasonably stable hydraulic and organic loadings were maintained. Experimental results demonstrated that the system produced the highest pollutant removal efficiencies with a relatively short saturated period and long unsaturated period, highlighting the importance of oxygen transfer into reed bed matrices during the treatment. Significant removals of some major organic and inorganic pollutants were achieved under all three operational conditions. Nitrification was not the major route of ammoniacal-nitrogen removal when the system was under high organic loading. Due to the filtration of suspended solids and the accumulation of biomass, gradual clogging of the reed bed matrices took place, which caused concerns over the long-term efficiency of the tidal flow system.
KNT-artificial neural network model for flux prediction of ultrafiltration membrane producing drinking water
Authors: Oh H.K. , Yu M.J. , Gwon E.M. , Koo J.Y. , Kim S.G. , Koizumi A.
Published: May 2018

This paper describes the prediction of flux behavior in an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system using a Kalman neuro training (KNT) network model. The experimental data was obtained from operating a pilot plant of hollow fiber UF membrane with groundwater for 7 months. The network was trained using operating conditions such as inlet pressure, filtration duration, and feed water quality parameters including turbidity, temperature and UV254. Pre-processing of raw data allowed the normalized input data to be used in sigmoid activation functions. A neural network architecture was structured by modifying the number of hidden layers, neurons and learning iterations.

The structure of KNT-neural network with 3 layers and 5 neurons allowed a good prediction of permeate flux by 0.997 of correlation coefficient during the learning phase. Also the validity of the designed model was evaluated with other experimental data not used during the training phase and nonlinear flux behavior was accurately estimated with 0.999 of correlation coefficient and a lower error of prediction in the testing phase.

This good flux prediction can provide preliminary criteria in membrane design and set up the proper cleaning cycle in membrane operation. The KNT-artificial neural network is also expected to predict the variation of transmembrane pressure during filtration cycles and can be applied to automation and control of full scale treatment plants.
Acidogenic pretreatment of wastewaters containing 2-nitrophenol
Authors: Jinadasa K.B.S.N. , Mun C.H. , Aziz M.A. , Ng W.J.
Published: May 2018

Anaerobic Toxicity Assay (ATA) tests were conducted on acidogenic cultures to assess the feasibility of using acidogenic processes to treat wastewaters containing 2-nitrophenol. Results indicated 2-nitrophenol could be removed with a removal efficiency of more than 98%. 2-aminophenol was identified as the major metabolite of the biotransformation of 2-nitrophenol. Reduction in inhibition potential of acidogenic pretreated effluent was observed in the aerobic process. EC50 values of 2-nitrophenol and 2-aminophenol were found to be 0.065 mM and 1.83 mM respectively.
Optimizing volatile fatty acid production in partial acidogenesis of swine wastewater
Authors: Yang K. , Oh C. , Hwang S.
Published: May 2018

This research has been conducted based on the fact that acetic and butyric acids are favorable substrates for methanogens, and that a low level of propionic acid production during acidogenesis minimizes the inhibition effect on methanogenic growth. Raw swine wastewater was pretreated with ammonia stripping to enhance acidogenesis. The ammonia nitrogen concentration of less than 1.2 g/L did not significantly affect the biochemical acidogenic potential of swine wastewater. For acidogenesis of swine wastewater, a et of experiments were carried out to produce short chain volatile fatty acids (VFA) in laboratory-scale continuously stirred tank reactors. The production of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids associated with simultaneous changes in hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature was investigated. Response surface methodology was successfully applied to approximate the responses of the VFA productions. The optimum physiological conditions where the maximum acetic and butyric acids production occurred were 2.4 days HRT at 34°C and 2.1 days HRT at 35°C, respectively. The propionic acid production linearly increased as both HRT and temperature increased.
High rate treatment by aerobic upflow sludge blanket (AUSB) with external oxygenation
Authors: Sharma K.R. , Huang J.C.
Published: May 2018

A 3-year study was conducted using an aerobic upflow sludge blanket (AUSB) reactor to achieve high-rate biological treatment through maintenance of a high biomass concentration (7–10 g VSS/L) together with a high oxygen flux. The AUSB reactor was not aerated directly; instead, oxygenation was provided in an external chamber with flow recirculation. The oxygenation was provided at four different ressurizations: 0, 15, 20 and 25 psig. The AUSB reactor was also pressurized to avoid the flotation of biomass. The flow recirculation rate was varied from 400% to 1,500% in order to ensure adequate oxygen supply. It was found that the AUSB system was able to handle a volumetric loading of as high as 10 kg COD/m3-day with a removal efficiency of 92%. Despite a high upflow velocity through AUSB, the effluent suspended solid concentration was mostly below 60 mg/L. The active fraction of biomass in the AUSB sludge was about 3 times higher than that of the regular activated sludge. This was indicated by a very high specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), up to 180-250 mg O2/g VSS-hr. The sludge yield in the entire system was only 0.09 to 0.13 g VSS/g COD removed. This was mainly caused by additional auto-oxidation of biosolids in the oxygenation chamber due to flow recirculation.
Co-removal of hexavalent chromium through adsorption during copper precipitation
Authors: Sun J.M. , Huang J.C.
Published: May 2018

A systematic study was conducted to assess the mechanisms involved in the co-removal of hexavalent chromium during chemical precipitation of divalent copper. Batch tests were used to assess the precipitation phenomena in both pure copper solutions and also mixed copper-Cr(VI) solutions with progressive addition of sodium carbonate to increase pH and induce precipitation. It was found that the coremoval of Cr(VI) was caused by two distinct mechanisms: coprecipitation of copper with Cr(VI) at pH 5.0 to 5.2, leading to the formation of CuCrO4 precipitates. Once the fine crystallites of CuCrO4 were formed, the test solution became heterogeneous and this accelerated the production of copper-carbonate precipitates, mainly in the form of CuCO3·Cu(OH)2, at pH 5.2 to 6.2. The latter precipitates were negatively charged at pH below 7.5, and thus they were able to adsorb a considerable amount of the remaining chromate ions [HCrO4- and CrO42-]. The extent of adsorption depended on both pH and surface loading. Besides electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange was also found to play some role. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 6.5. When pH was raised to 10.0, approximately 25-30% of the adsorbed chromium could become desorbed due to a surface charge reversal on the adsorbent.
Nuisance odours produced by benthic cyanobacteria in a Mediterranean river
Authors: Vilalta E. , Guasch H. , Muñoz I. , Romaní A. , Valero F. , Rodriguez J.J. , Alcaraz R. , Sabater S.
Published: May 2018

Geosmin dynamics in the Llobregat waters were related to the waxing and waning of benthic cyanobacterial mats developing in the river. Geosmin concentration in the water during 2002 reached a maximum of 204 ng L-1, and coincided with an abundance of cyanobacteria in the river. Cyanobacterial mats were favoured by the high nutrient content of the waters. The cyanobacterial mats experienced a process of growth in thickness (attached forms), until they became unattached and drifted downstream (free-floating forms), accumulating in shallow areas of the river. Geosmin in the biofilm ranged from 0.55 ± 0.97 ng geosmin per mg DW-1 in the attached biofilms and 5.25 ± 4.96 ng geosmin per mg DW-1 in the free-floating biofilms. While the attached mats could be responsible for the local occurrence of geosmin at a given site, the free-floating mats became a relevant agent for the dispersion of the metabolite downstream. This impression was reinforced by the extremely high correlation between the geosmin content in the free-floating biofilm and in the water (r = 0.917, p = 0.00001). In order to reduce the geosmin concentration and accumulation of the cyanobacterial mats in shallow river waters, the nutrient content should be controlled and the natural flow conditions restored, to prevent the growth and accumulation of the geosmin-producing cyanobacterial mats.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis and sources of limonene, cyclohexanone and straight chain aldehydes in axenic cultures of Calothrix and Plectonema
Authors: Höckelmann C. , Jüttner F.
Published: May 2018

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in four standing cultures of axenic benthic cyanobacteria (Calothrix and Plectonema) were studied by GC/MS analysis. To verify the biogenic origin of the VOCs, 13C-labelling experiments were performed, and the differences in labelling were used to differentiate between biogenic and non-biogenic sources. Strongly labelled biogenic compounds were derived from the shikimate (cresol, skatole), isoprenoid β-cyclocitral, β-ionone, geosmin) and fatty acid pathways (5Z-heptadecene, 3-octanone, 1-hexanol). New odour compounds derived from microorgansims were β-cyclogeraniol, dihydro-β-ionone and 2-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexanone. The latter compound had already been found in lake water, but could not be assigned to a particular organism. Straight chain aldehydes (octanal, nonanal, decanal), cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol and limonene were unlabelled beyond their natural isotope ratio. Therefore, the biogenic origin of these compounds is doubtful despite their occurrence in axenic cultures. The observation that limonene was a racemate supports this view. The precursors and reactions that lead to the formation of these non-biogenic compounds are unknown and it may be that they are formed by the analytical procedures rather than then being present in the culture medium.
The effects of nano-materials on the behaviors of sludge mortar specimens
Authors: Luo H.L. , Lin D.F. , Kuo W.T.
Published: May 2018

In this research, nano-composites are added to sewage sludge ash to create a mixture, which then replaces part of cement. Nano-composites are manufactured from pure quartzose sand. The influences of different amounts of nano-composites and sludge ash on mortar are evaluated. Cement, sludge ash (0%, 10%, and 20%), and nano-composites (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%), which defined as the percent weight of cement and sludge ash, are mixed together in batches to make mortar specimens. Results show that the flowability of sludge ash mortar reduces with increasing amount of cement replaced and of nano-composites added. The compressive strength of mortar lowers when more amounts of cement are replaced by sludge ash, but increases with more quantity of nano-composites added. Moreover, the study shows that nano-composites can fortify the compressive strength of mortar. With the help of efficiency of compressive strength, nano-composites benefit most to the mortar with replacement of 10% sludge ash, followed by the substitution of 20% and 0%.
A comparison of ultrasound treatment on primary and secondary sludges
Authors: Mao T. , Hong S.-Y. , Show K.-Y. , Tay J.-H. , Lee D.-J.
Published: May 2018

Ultrasound treatment of primary and secondary sludges was conducted to improve the qualities of sludges for the anaerobic digestion. The impacts of different sonication times, sonication densities and olids concentrations on ultrasonication efficiency were examined. The experimental results indicated that the significant reduction in particle size and increase in soluble organics could be achieved, implying that ultrasonication could offer a feasible treatment method to efficiently disintegrate sludge. The greater decrease in particle size and increase in soluble organics of sludge indicated that the secondary sludge has a more remarkable improvement after sonication over the primary sludge. With respects to the extent of disintegration and energy consumption, higher sonication density performed more effectively in terms of specific energy. There exists an optimal solids concentration range for both the sludges for optimum sonication. Within the optimal solids concentration range, efficient sonication can be effected and sludge would be disintegrated efficiently. The ultrasound would be attenuated by scattering and absorption if the solids concentration exceeds the optimal range. It appeared from the study that the mechanical shear forces caused by ultrasonic cavitation could be a key factor for sludge disintegration and collapse of cavitation bubbles could significantly alter the sludge characteristics.
Non-specific monitoring to resolve intermittent pollutant problems associated with wastewater treatment and potable supply
Authors: Stuetz R.M.
Published: May 2018

An online monitoring system based on an array of non-specific sensors was used for the detection of chemical pollutants in wastewater and water. By superimposing sensor profiles for defined sampling window, the identification of data points outside these normal sensor response patterns was used to represent potential pollution episodes or other abnormalities within the process stream. Principle component analysis supported the detection of outliers or rapid changes in the sensor responses as an indicator of chemical pollutants. A model based on the comparison of sensor relative responses to a moving average for a defined sample window was tested for detecting and identifying sudden changes in the online data over a 6-month period. These results show the technical advantages of using a non-specific based monitoring system that can respond to a range of chemical species, due to broad selectivity of the sensor compositions. The findings demonstrate how this non-invasive technique could be further developed to provide early warning systems for application at the inlet of wastewater treatment plants.
Effects of chlorine and chloramines on earthy and musty odors in drinking water
Authors: Oestman E. , Schweitzer L. , Tomboulian P. , Corado A. , Suffet I.H.
Published: May 2018

Water treatment plants in the US may operate under the assumption that chlorine masks earthy and musty odors from geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in drinking water. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the effects of chlorine and chloramines on geosmin and MIB by two sensory analysis approaches - a statistical Pairwise Comparison Test, and Flavor Profile Analysis (FPA). All Pairwise Ranking test statistics were significant (p<0.05); we conclude that panelists can differentiate minor differences in geosmin and MIB concentrations in a Pairwise Comparison Test even in the presence of chlorine. FPA appeared to be more challenging in discerning subtle differences in concentrations of geosmin or MIB than did the Pairwise Comparison Test, and the presence of chlorine (0.5-20 mg/L) and chloramines (3-24 mg/L) confused the panelists (i.e showed a larger error in the intensity of response reported by the panel), but did not necessarily mask geosmin or MIB.
Reuse of fresh water sludge in cement making
Authors: Pan J.R. , Huang C. , Lin S.
Published: May 2018

With the increasing demand for high quality water, a large quantity of chemical agent must be added in the water purification process, which in turn generates enormous amount of fresh water sludge. Of all the options for sludge disposal, sludge reuse has been considered most economical and environmentally sound. This study evaluated the possibility of incorporating fresh water sludge in the making of Portland cement through the sintering process. The goal was to search for the optimal condition to maximize the replacement of clay with the fresh water sludge. Characteristics of fresh water sludge were collected and analyzed. The analysis showed that water source and water treatment process dominate the characteristics, particularly the chemical composition of the fresh water sludge. The fresh water sludge was mixed with the cement clay in various percentages, from 0% to 100%, as raw material for cement-making. The effects of its addition on the sintering condition and the quality of cement were evaluated. The analysis of the clinkers showed that the addition of the fresh water sludge did not change the phase form and the f-CaO content of the cement. The compressive strength of the masonry increased with the increasing addition of fresh water sludge. All cement products made from various replacement ratios met the Chinese National Standard of first degree Portland cement.
Development of an odor wheel classification scheme for wastewater
Authors: Burlingame G.A. , Suffet I.H. , Khiari D. , Bruchet A.L.
Published: May 2018

Overall, in the air pollution control field, odor concentration and intensity as well as hedonic rating have been well studied to the point where some level of standardization is being developed or is already in place. However, there has been no standardization with respect to odor quality characterization. There is now sufficient understanding of the types of odorous compounds that can arise from wastewater treatment processes to develop an odor classification scheme. This article presents the first wastewater odor wheel or classification scheme that should form the foundation for the evolution of odor quality data reporting with links to chemical causes.
Production of hydrogen and methane from wastewater sludge using anaerobic fermentation
Authors: Ting C.H. , Lin K.R. , Lee D.J. , Tay J.H.
Published: May 2018

The hydrogen and methane were produced from wastewater sludge using a Clostridium strain. The original sludge and the pre-treated (acidified, sterilized, freeze/thawed, and sonicated) sludges were tested. Some pre-treatment could enhance hydrogen yield, and the other tests could enhance methane yield. Hydrogen yield followed freeze/thawed>acidified>sterilized>original sludge>sonicated; while methane yield followed sonicated> freeze/thawed>sterilized>acidified>original sludge. The production and consumption of acetate correlated closely with the trends in both yields.
Tastes associated with products in contact with drinking water
Authors: Marchesan M. , Morran J.
Published: May 2018

Over the past 9 years the Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) has conducted testing in accordance with Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4020 - “Products for use in contact with drinking water” (1999). A test included as part of this standard is taste of water extracts. This test assesses the ability of products to impart discernible taste to drinking water using panellists trained in accordance with Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater - Flavour Profile Analysis 2170 B (1999). Over 1000 products from companies worldwide, have been assessed at the AWQC in accordance with AS/NZS 4020 including pipes, valves, tap fittings and numerous other products used in contact with water. The products must not impart any discernible taste to obtain compliance and be deemed suitable for use in contact with drinking water. This study compiles the products assessed and the types of tastes obtained from both chlorinated and non-chlorinated extracts. In particular the study focuses on taste associated with polyethylene pipes, coatings and valves, which in some instances have been problematic. Analysis revealed that most taste problems occur when chlorinated water has been used in extraction experiments and this is in line with consumer complaints regarding taste imparted by plumbing products. The collation of this data provides a valuable assessment for manufacturers, the water industry and consumers.
Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sewage sludge by anaerobic degradation
Authors: Christensen N. , Batstone D.J. , He Z. , Angelidaki I. , Schmidt J.E.
Published: May 2018

Due to the hydrophobic nature of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) they are mostly bound to the sludge and escape aerobic treatment in a wastewater treatment plant. They therefore proceed directly to the anaerobic post treatment, terminate in the sludge, and can be released to the environment if land spreading is used. PAH degradation in anaerobic methanogenic systems has only recently been shown to occur. In this study we have assessed several factors of anaerobic PAH degradation by evaluating thermodynamic feasibility of degradation, assessing degradation at different temperatures, and investigating the enriched cultures using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH). Thermodynamic calculations indicated that PAH degradation was possible under methanogenic conditions, in the presence of hydrogen utilizing methanogens. Removal of naphthalene and 1-methyl naphthalene depended both on temperature and the initial inoculum. Inocula sourced from contaminated land sites were the most effective. The enrichments were all a mixture of Bacteria, and Archaea, and the Archaea were generally identified as Methanobacteriales, using an order-specific probe. The bacteria were not specifically identified. The results indicate a syntrophic culture, with the bacteria oxidizing the naphthalene, and the Archaea converting the hydrogen produced by oxidation, to methane.
Sensory evaluation of the odors produced during bromophenol formation using a multi-level statistical model
Authors: Al-Samarrai H. , Matud J. , Wiesenthal K. , Atiyah P. , Bruchet A. , Suffet I.H.
Published: May 2018

In response to reports of medicinal taste and odor problems in suburban Paris, a lab scale study was conducted to investigate the contribution of different water quality parameters - pH, phenol, bromide, chlorine, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels - on bromophenol medicinal odor formation using the Flavor Profile Analysis (FPA) method. A study of six parameters at 2 levels (64 experiments) analyzed by the FPA method suggests that chlorine at high concentration is more important as a controlling agent than phenol under similar conditions and the ratio of HOBr:Phenol and the time for reaction will control subsequent brominated products of reaction. Results from a three-level statistical model indicate that high pH was associated with lower odor intensities, whereas high levels of chlorine, phenol and temperature were associated with high odor intensities. Potential worst case scenarios of water quality conditions were determined for evaluation by chemical identification and kinetics.
Determination of nanogram level of VSCs using GC-SCD and an adsorption tube
Authors: Choi Y.G. , Ko D.H. , Kim H.J. , Chung T.H.
Published: May 2018

A quantitative analytical method was used for detection of low level of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) using GC with a sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD) in this study. A linear response over the range of 2-90 ngS injected was obtained with a good repeatability or reproducibility. Equimolar response for H2S, DMS, MeSH, and EtSH was obtained by use of SCD and the response of the SCD is nearly equimolar for different sulfur compounds. It was possible to quantify the total VSCs as well as individual VSC using one of the standard VSCs. VSC recovery was measured with respect to some storing methods. An adsorption tube packed with molecular sieve 5A showed almost perfect recovery for both H2S and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) during 6 days at a dark state below 2°. Whereas, with a gas tight pyrex vial or tedlar bag, it was impossible to obtain the recovery of 50% after 6 days. It is strongly recommended to use the adsorption tube for determination of nanogram levels of volatile sulfur compounds and for storing and concentrating VSCs effectively with a minimum experimental error.
What is the potential for utilizing the resources in sludge?
Authors: Kroiss H.
Published: May 2018

The successful strategy for water protection by biological wastewater treatment results in a sludge production of about 20 to 40 kg dry matter per population equivalent and year. In the context of regional material fluxes, sewage sludge has a low resource potential and a low pollution potential despite the fact that it can be characterised as a sink, concentrating wastewater compounds. The mass flow of nutrients (N, P) in the sewage sludge is comparatively small as compared to the losses of nutrients in agriculture. The most valuable element in the sludge is phosphorus, as the availability of phosphorus for the production of low-cost mineral fertiliser is limited. The most economical means of P-recycling is agricultural sludge application, which can also be seen as the option with the lowest loss of all valuable compounds of the sludge, and the lowest increase of entropy. The reliability of this disposal route for the treatment plant operator depends on several major pre-requisites:reliability in regard to hygienereliability in regard to long-term soil protectionpublic acceptance (politicians, media)acceptance by all parties involved in sludge application and its consequences (farmers, farmer unions, land owners, food industry, food trade, retailers, consumers, consumer associations, NGOs, etc.)

Only the first two prerequisites can be based on scientific research and risk assessment. As a consequence, only for these two aspects can quality criteria and adequate procedures be developed and introduced into a legal framework and quality assurance procedures. The latter two pre-requisites must be addressed in terms of sociology, psychology and political science and have a strong educational aspect.
Nitrite accumulation by aeration controlled in sequencing batch reactors treating domestic wastewater
Authors: Peng Y.Z. , Chen Y. , Peng C.Y. , Liu M. , Wang S.Y. , Song X.Q. , Cui Y.W.
Published: May 2018

The feasibility of obtaining and keeping stable nitrite accumulation in Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) treating domestic wastewater is studied. The final product of ammonium oxidation is either reproducible nitrate or nitrite depending on the aeration strategy. With the aerobic-anoxic sequence, two SBRs fed with domestic wastewater are operated in parallel. One SBR (SBR1) is controlled by the aeration control strategy, and the other SBR (SBR2) by alternate aeration control strategy. Based on the on-line indirect measurements of DO and pH, the relationship between pH (or DO) and nitrogen concentration (NH4+-N, NO3−-N and NO2−-N) is investigated. The result indicates that pH and DO can be used as control parameters for the real-time aeration control strategy to obtain nitritation in SBR treating domestic wastewater. The result of SBR1 indicates that long-term stable nitritation is possible at 32 ± 1°C. The result of SBR2 indicates that the aeration control strategy is necessary for nitritation during the acclimation period, because the nitrite accumulation disappears when the aeration is extended.
Sludge characterization: the rôle of physical consistency
Authors: Spinosa L. , Wichmann K.
Published: May 2018

The physical consistency is an important parameter in sewage sludge characterization as it strongly affects almost all treatment, utilization and disposal operations. In addition, in many European Directives a reference to the physical consistency is reported as a characteristic to be evaluated for fulfilling the regulations’ requirements. Further, in many analytical methods for sludge, different procedures are indicated depending on whether a sample is liquid or not, is solid or not. Three physical behaviours (liquid, paste-like and solid) can be observed with sludges, so the development of analytical procedures to define the boundary limit between liquid and paste-like behaviours (flowability) and that between solid and pastelike ones (solidity) is of growing interest. Several devices can be used for evaluating the flowability and solidity properties, but often they are costly and difficult to be operated in the field. Tests have been carried out to evaluate the possibility to adopt a simple extrusion procedure for flowability measurements, and a Vicat needle for solidity ones.
Chemical conditioning of sludge
Authors: Novak J.T. , Park C.
Published: May 2018

With all the advances made in understanding the structure and composition of sewage sludges, chemical conditioning remains a trial and error process, both with regard to the type and dose of conditioner needed. Recent studies at Virginia Tech have found that biological floc consists of two types of biopolymer, material associated with iron and aluminium and material associated with calcium and magnesium. These materials behave differently when sludges undergo digestion. This results in very different material being released into solution during digestion and very different conditioning requirements. This study shows that the primary materials released during anaerobic digestion are proteins and coagulation of the colloidal protein fraction in solution is the primary mechanism for conditioning. For aerobically digested sludges, both proteins and polysaccharides make up the colloid fraction, which interferes with dewatering. This research also shows that the effectiveness of the digestion process as characterized by volatile solids destruction is directly related to the chemical dose required for conditioning. That is, as the solids destruction increases, the conditioning chemical requirement also increases. Well digested sludges dewater more poorly and require more conditioning chemical than those with less volatile solids destruction.
Short-term effects of carbon source on the competition of polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms
Authors: Oehmen A. , Yuan Z. , Blackall L.L. , Keller J.
Published: May 2018

The effectiveness of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems is directly affected by the competition of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs). This study investigated the short-term effects of carbon source on PAO and GAO performance. The tests were designed to clearly determine the impact of volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition on the performance of two types of biomass, one enriched for PAOs and the other for GAOs. The two populations were enriched in separate reactors using identical operating conditions and very similar influent compositions with acetate as the sole carbon source. The only difference was that a very low level of phosphorus was present in the influent to the GAO reactor. The abundance of PAOs and GAOs was quantified using fluorescence in-situ hybridisation. The results clearly show that there are some very distinctive differences between PAOs and GAOs in their ability to utilise different carbon substrates. While both are able to take up acetate rapidly and completely, the GAOs are far slower at consuming propionate than the PAOs during short-term substrate changes. This provides a potentially highly valuable avenue to influence the competition between PAOs and GAOs. Other VFAs studied seem to be less usable in the short term by both PAOs and GAOs, as indicated by their much lower uptake rates.
A novel wastewater treatment process: simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal
Authors: Zeng R.J. , Lemaire R. , Yuan Z. , Keller J.
Published: May 2018

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via the nitrite pathway and anaerobic–anoxic enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) are two processes that can significantly reduce the COD demand for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The combination of these two processes has the potential of achieving simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal with a minimal requirement for COD. A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated in alternating anaerobic–aerobic mode with a low dissolved oxygen concentration (DO, 0.5 mg/L) during the aerobic period, and was demonstrated to accomplish nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal. Under anaerobic conditions, COD was taken up and converted to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), accompanied with phosphorus release. In the subsequent aerobic stage, PHA was oxidized and phosphorus was taken up to less than 0.5 mg/L at the end of the cycle. Ammonia was also oxidised during the aerobic period, but without accumulation of nitrite or nitrate in the system, indicating the occurrence of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. However, off-gas analysis found that the final denitrification product was mainly nitrous oxide (N2O) not N2. Further experimental results demonstrated that nitrogen removal was via nitrite, not nitrate. These experiments also showed that denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms rather than denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms were responsible for the denitrification activity.
The presence of ammonium facilitates nitrite reduction under PHB driven simultaneous nitrification and denitrification
Authors: Gibbs B.M. , Shephard L.R. , Third K.A. , Cord-Ruwisch R.
Published: May 2018

For economic and efficient nitrogen removal from wastewater treatment plants via simultaneous nitrification and denitrification the nitrification process should stop at the level of nitrite such that nitrite rather than nitrate becomes the substrate for denitrification. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the conditions that are necessary to improve nitrite reduction over nitrite oxidation. Laboratory sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated with synthetic wastewater containing acetate as COD and ammonium as the nitrogen source. Computer controlled operation of the reactors allowed reproducible simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). The oxygen supply was kept precisely at a low level of 0.5 mgL−1 and bacterial PHB was the only electron donor available for denitrification. During SND little nitrite or nitrate accumulated (< 20% total N), indicating that the reducing processes were almost as fast as the production of nitrite and nitrate from nitrification. Nitrite spiking tests were performed to investigate the fate of nitrite under different oxidation (0.1–1.5 mgL−1 of dissolved oxygen) and reduction conditions. High levels of reducing power were provided by allowing the cells to build up to 2.5 mM of PHB. Nitrite added was preferentially oxidised to nitrate rather than reduced even when dissolved oxygen was low and reducing power (PHB) was excessively high. However, the presence of ammonium enabled significant reduction of nitrite under low oxygen conditions. This is consistent with previous observations in SBR where aerobic nitrite and nitrate reduction occurred only as long as ammonium was present. As soon as ammonium was depleted, the rate of denitrification decreased significantly. The significance of the observed strongly stimulating effect of ammonium on nitrite reduction under SND conditions is discussed and potential consequences for SBR operation are suggested.
Functional analysis of microbial community in phenol-degrading aerobic granules cultivated in SBR
Authors: Tay S.T.-L. , Jiang H.-L. , Tay J.-H.
Published: May 2018

Phenol-degrading aerobic granules were cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor with an influent phenol concentration of 500 mg l−1. Eight strains were isolated from aerobic granules to characterize the functional redundancy of the microbial community in the granules. The specific oxygen utilization kinetics show the eight strains possessed different phenol-degrading activities, with half-saturation constants (Ks) ranging from 0.4 to 70.5 mg phenol l−1. Two isolates belonging to dominant populations expressed differing functions. The first strain was linked to the function of phenol degradation as this strain has the highest phenol-degrading ability among all isolates, while the second strain was linked to the maintenance of the granule structure because of its strong self-flocculation activity. This study could be used to exploit the granule-based system for treating high-strength wastewaters.
Variation of the microbial activity during the acclimation phase of a SBR system degrading 4-chlorophenol
Authors: Moreno-Andrade I. , Buitrón G.
Published: May 2018

The variation of microbial activity during acclimation to 4-chlorophenol (4CP) in an aerobic automated sequencing batch reactor was studied. The results show a reduction in degradation time as the acclimation process occurred. During acclimation for an initial concentration of 50 mg 4CP/L, degradation time was reduced from 40 h to 50 min after 10 cycles. In the case of an initial concentration of 100 mg/L, degradation time was reduced from 52 h to 1.16 h, also after 10 cycles. Doubling the initial concentration of a previously acclimated sludge produces only a slight increase in degradation time. It was found that as acclimation took place, the affinity of the consortia to biodegrade the toxic increased, whereas the ability to biodegrade acetate decreased. The evolution of the substrate uptake rate over time during the acclimation period was highly correlated with an exponential relationship. It was also observed that acclimation decreased both the production of a toxic metabolite and the sludge volumetric index.
In-line river monitoring – new challenges and opportunities
Authors: Pressl A. , Winkler S. , Gruber G.
Published: May 2018

Water management becomes a complex issue when considering the large number of water-rights-of-use like drinking water production, recreation, receiving water, transport on and ecological quality of the water bodies. Recent changes in the legal requirements concerning water management on European scale (EC Water Framework Directive, 2000/60/EC) highlighted the need for appropriate means for monitoring water quality and exchange of water quality data. Indirect measurement of water quality using surrogate parameters (chemical and physical-chemical parameters) can be automated at a high accuracy level. This was shown over the past years by national and international research projects. In 2001 such a research project has started in Austria focusing on the installation and operation of a pilot water quality network, which is suitable for application at several points of interest of water management, i.e. sewer networks, wastewater treatment plants and receiving water bodies. The paper describes the operational problems and experiences of collecting data over a period of one year in the Danube River downstream of Vienna. The sensors are installed in situ, directly in the river, without any bypass system. The first evaluation of the measurements shows that the values are reliable and therefore applicable to further interpretations.
Conservation principles suspended solids distribution modelling to support ATS introduction on a recirculating WWTP
Authors: Gernaey Krist V. , Nielsen Marinus K. , Thornberg Dines , Höök Benny , Munk-Nielsen Thomas , Ingildsen Pernille , Jørgensen Sten Bay
Published: May 2018

A model for the description of the SS distribution in a full-scale recirculating activated sludge WWTP was developed. The model, based on conservation principles, uses on-line plant data as model inputs, and provides a prediction of the SS load in the inlet to the secondary clarifiers and the SS distribution in the WWTP as outputs. The calibrated model produces excellent predictions of the SS load to the secondary clarifiers, an essential variable for the operation of the aeration tank settling (ATS) process. A case study illustrated how the calibrated SS distribution model can be used to evaluate the potential benefit of ATS implementation on a full-scale recirculating WWTP. A reduction of the maximum SS peak load to the secondary clarifiers with 24.9% was obtained with ATS, whereas the cumulative SS load to the clarifiers is foreseen to be reduced with 22.5% for short rain events (4 hours duration) and with 16.6% for long rain events (24 hours duration). The SS distribution model is a useful tool for off-line studies of the potential benefits to be obtained by introducing ATS on a recirculating WWTP. Finally, the successful operation of the ATS process on the full-scale plant is illustrated with data.
Scalable mobile information system to support the treatment
Authors: Schuchardt L. , Steinmetz H. , Ehret J. , Ebert A. , Schmitt T.G.
Published: May 2018

In order to support the operation of wastewater systems and the workflow of sewage systems an application for demonstration has been developed to show exemplarily how a mobile information system can be transferred into practice and used by the staff. The paper presents a scalable information visualisation system, which can be used with mobile devices. The regarded information data does not only include process data, but also general information about buildings and units, work directions, occupational safety regulations as well as instructions of first aid in case of a work accident. This is particularly appropriate for the use in remote facilities. The implementation is based on but not limited to SQL, JSP and HTML.
Dynamic digital image analysis: emerging technology for particle characterization
Authors: Rabinski G. , Thomas D.
Published: May 2018

The feasibility of applying dynamic imaging analysis technology to particle characterization has been evaluated for application in the water sector. A system has been developed which captures in-situ images of suspended particles in a flowing sample stream and analyzes these images in real time to determine particle size and concentration. The technology can measure samples having a wide range of particle sizes (∼1.5 to 1,000 μm equivalent circular diameter) and concentrations (<1 to >1 million/ml). The system also provides magnified images of particles for visual analysis of properties such as size, shape and grayscale level. There are no sample preparation requirements and statistically accurate results are produced in less than three minutes per sample. The overall system architecture is described. The major design challenges in developing a practical system include obtaining adequate contrast for the range of particle materials found in typical water samples and achieving this under operating conditions permitting an adequate sample processing rate for real time feedback of results. Performance of the instrument is reported in reference to industry accepted particle standards and applications as an analytical tool for the water industries are considered.
Monitoring floc formation and breakage
Authors: Gregory J.
Published: May 2018

Monitoring of flocculation processes is of great practical importance and can give very useful information on the action of different coagulants under various conditions. It is shown that a continuous optical monitoring technique provides a convenient means of following the formation, break-up and regrowth of flocs under standard mixing and stirring conditions. Examples of results using this approach are given, with alum and PACl coagulants as well as a cationic polyelectrolyte. PACl products give larger flocs than with alum, but they show about the same relative degree of breakage when the shear rate is increased. With all of these coagulants, floc breakage is not fully reversible; i.e. flocs only re-grow to a limited extent when the shear rate is reduced. This is in marked contrast to the action of a cationic polyelectrolyte, where floc breakage is almost completely reversible. Some possible reasons for these observations are discussed, but, so far, there is no adequate model available.