Aerobic granulation and nitrogen removal with the effluent of internal circulation reactor in start-up of a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor

Abstract

Aerobic granular sludge was successfully cultivated with the effluent of internal circulation (IC) reactor in a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using activated sludge as seeding sludge. N removal was investigated in the start-up of aerobic granulation process. Initially, the phenomenon of partial nitrification was observed and nitrite accumulation rates (NO(2) (-)-N/NO (x) (-) -N) were between 84.6 and 99.1 %. It was potentially caused by ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the seeding activated sludge, high external environmental temperature (~32 °C) and free ammonia (FA) concentration. After 50 days' running, the aerobic granules-based bioreactor demonstrated perfect performance in simultaneous removal of organic matter and ammonia nitrogen, and average removal efficiencies were maintained above 93 and 96 %, respectively. The maximum nitrogen removal efficiency of 83.1 % was achieved after the formation of aerobic granules. The average diameter of mature aerobic granular sludge mostly ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 mm. Furthermore, one typical cyclic test indicated that pH and DO profiles could be used as effective parameters for biological reactions occurring in the aerobic/anoxic process. The obtained results could provide further information on the cultivation of aerobic granular sludge with practical wastewater, especially with regard to nitrogen-rich industrial wastewater.

Influence of the granulation grade on the concentration of suspended solids in the effluent of a pilot scale sequencing batch reactor operated with aerobic granular sludge

“…But only in recent years there have been more research facilities that reported the purification of real wastewater using aerobic granules [9][10][11][12][13]. Yet only few studies are known, that used aerobic granules in pilot scale either for treating municipal wastewater [14], soy protein wastewater [15], abattoir wastewater [16], synthetic low strength wastewater [13] or, swine slurry [17]. The benefits of aerobic granules are obvious: the entire process chain of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal can be organized in one reactor at significant higher biomass concentrations compared to activated sludge systems.…”

Toxicity of bisphenol A to aerobic granular sludge in sequencing batch reactors

“…granular sludge for biological nitrogen removal. It is well accepted that the composition of granular microbial communities, including heterotrophic, aerobic bacteria grown on the outside, ammoniumoxidizing bacteria in the middle and facultative and anaerobic bacteria in the core of the granules [29]. Therefore, the outside heterotrophic bacteria are more sensitive than ammonium-oxidizing bacteria to the toxic environment.…”

Aerobic granules formation and simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal treating high strength ammonia wastewater in sequencing batch reactor

“…It is considered to be an environment-friendly and cost effective technology for a full-scale biological application in the future (Wei et al, 2012). Compared to conventional activated sludge, aerobic granular sludge has excellent settling property, compact microbial structure and ability to withstand shock loadings (Adav et al, 2008).…”