A comparison of aerobic granular sludge with conventional and compact biological treatment technologies

Abstract

The aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology is growing towards becoming a mature option for new municipal wastewater treatment plants and capacity extensions. A process based on AGS was compared to conventional activated sludge processes (with and without enhanced biological phosphorus removal), an integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) process and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) by estimating the land area demand (footprint), electricity demand and chemicals' consumption. The process alternatives compared included pre-settling, sludge digestion and necessary post-treatment to achieve effluent concentrations of 8 mg/L nitrogen and 0.2 mg/L phosphorus at 7°C. The alternative based on AGS was estimated to have a 40-50% smaller footprint and 23% less electricity requirement than conventional activated sludge. In relation to the other compact treatment options IFAS and MBR, the AGS process had an estimated electricity usage that was 35-70% lower. This suggests a favourable potential for processes based on AGS although more available experience of AGS operation and performance at full scale is desired.

Sludge volume index and suspended solids estimation of mature aerobic granular sludge by quantitative image analysis and chemometric tools

“…The aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems are a promising technology to replace AS systems due to the smaller footprint and the possibility to remove organic matter and nutrients (N and P) simultaneously in the same reactor [4,5]. In this sense, AGS systems have already been used to treat different troublesome wastewaters including from the pulp and paper industry, petrochemical, hypersaline, oily and sulfur-laden effluents, and applied in heavy metals removal, among others [6][7][8][9][10].…”

Validation of a quantitative image analysis methodology for the assessment of the morphology and structure of aerobic granular sludge in the presence of pharmaceutically active compounds

“…Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is considered a promising technology for wastewater treatment, being compact, cost-effective, highly resistant to toxic compounds and potentially capable to remove nutrients, toxic, and recalcitrant compounds. For that reason, AGS is now replacing activated sludge systems in several countries (Bengtsson et al, 2019;Maszenan et al, 2011;Nancharaiah and Kumar, 2017). As the obtained aggregates dimensions were found to be important for process control, granular size assessment of the aerobic granules is gaining increasing attention (Long et al, 2019;Verawaty et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2015).…”

Sistemas granulares aerobios para el tratamiento descentralizado de aguas servidas y su reutilización en condominios en Chile

“…Dentro de las tecnologías alternativas, los sistemas basados en biomasa granular aerobia son a priori una opción adecuada para realizar in-situ el tratamiento de las aguas residuales de los condominios dado que su área de implantación es un 25% de la requerida por los sistemas de lodos activos [10][11] y el consumo energético se podría reducir del 65-75% [12]. En relación con otros sistemas de tratamiento compacto como pueden ser los reactores de biopelículas o los biorreactores de membranas, los sistemas basados en biomasa granular aerobia presentan un ahorro energético del 35 al 70% [13]. En trabajos de investigación realizados por Ni et al [14] y Pronk et al [15] se demostró que es posible tratar agua residual urbana utilizando biomasa granular aerobia.…”