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Ammani Tabhan Tabriz Uuiversity California Bearing Taruk
Ammani Tabhan Tabriz Uuiversity California Bearing Taruk
Ammani Tabhan Tabriz Uuiversity California Bearing Taruk
eration to maintain permeate flux [through incorporating chemical impact of daily CEBs on the effectiveness of chemical cleaning
cleanings into regular physical cleaning processes, for example processes.
chemically enhanced backwashes (CEBs)], or as a recovery oper-
ation to recover membrane flux from a severely fouled membrane
module (Ramos et al. 2014). Chemically enhanced backwashes Materials and Methods
combine conventional physical backwashing with chemical clean-
ing in one process, which could be of high importance for the
Reactor Configuration
design and operation of membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems
for wastewater treatment. Recent studies using CEBs have typically A 1,000 L stainless steel anaerobic CSTR was equipped with an
been performed at long intervals (weekly or monthly cleaning proc- external nanofiltration tubular membrane module and operated in
esses) (Zhou et al. 2014). There have been few comparative studies cross-flow mode. A simplified process flow diagram (PFD) of the
on different cleaning methods and conditions, and scant informa- configuration may be viewed in Fig. 1. The anaerobic CSTR was
tion exists on CEBs, in general, in the literature (Ramos et al. 2014; equipped with a heat wrap, which maintained the reactor temper-
Zhou et al. 2014). Snowdon et al. (2018) observed that one 60 s ature at an average value of 36.2°C (0.5°C) throughout the dura-
CEB every 24 h resulted in increased permeate flux, operational tion of the study. The operational temperature of approximately
permeability, and net flux, demonstrating CEBs’ effectiveness as 36°C was selected since it is the upper limit of mesophilic anaerobic
a preventive maintenance operation. digestion (25°C–35°C) and maximized biogas generation, which
This research project compared the efficiency of two different was desired (Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. 1991).
chemical cleaning processes applied to one membrane module Reactor-mixed liquor was continuously recirculated from the
integrated within a continuously operated pilot-scale AnMBR sys- CSTR to the membrane module and back into the CSTR by a pro-
tem. The two chemical cleaning processes were applied to the gressive cavity pump (Nemo, New Brunswick, Canada). This pump
membrane module only once it was severely fouled, acting as a maintained a mixed-liquor flow rate of 6,000 L=h, which resulted
recovery operation. As a secondary objective, the project investi- in the targeted membrane surface cross-flow velocity of 2.5 m=s
gated the impact of daily CEBs on the effectiveness of each and a complete recirculation of reactor contents every 10 min.
chemical cleaning process. The novel pilot-scale AnMBR system A cross-flow velocity of 2.5 m=s was selected since it is deemed
consisted of a 1,000 L anaerobic continuously stirred tank reactor to be the minimum operational cross-flow velocity that must be
(CSTR) integrated with an external nanofiltration tubular mem- maintained for the membrane module based on manufacturer rec-
brane module. The reactor and membrane configuration provided ommendations. It was desired to operate at the lower spectrum of
benefits over conventional cleaning processes in that the membrane the operational cross-flow velocity to minimize energy demands.
module did not need to be removed for chemical cleanings (since it The membrane module was cylindrical in shape, composed of poly-
could be isolated from the CSTR through a recirculation loop). This vinylidene fluoride (PVDF), with an outer diameter of 50 mm and
resulted in minimal downtime and maintenance work required for a total length of 1.436 m. The module contained 13 tubular mem-
chemical cleaning processes. With few direct comparative studies brane channels, each 8 mm in diameter, which resulted in a total
on different chemical cleanings applied to the same membrane membrane area of 0.42 m2 . The membrane surfaces had a mean
module, and little information in the literature on CEBs, there pore size of 30 nm.
ANAEROBIC-AEROBIC TREATMENT OF
POTATO-STARCH WASTEWATER
ABSTRACT
Production of potato starch produces wastewaters witb high concentrations of COD, nitrogen and
phosphorus. The best known and most economical solution for tbe nearly full elimination of tbese substances
is tbe two-stage anaerobic-aerobic treatment. The anaerobic pretreatment must only go so far as to maintain
enougb COD for biological nitrogen and phosphorus elimination in tbe aerobic stage. To optimize tbis
process, several tests have been carried out on nitrification/denitrification by means of tbe intermediate
product nitrite. The carbon consumption amounts to only 60% in comparison witb denitrification via nitrate.
The essential parameter for regulating tbe process is tbe concentration of free ammonia in tbe reactor.
Concentrations of I to 5mg NH31l inhibit tbe nitratation but not tbe nitritation. A separation of botb partial
steps is possible. The content of ammonia was controlled by means of continuous NH4 and pH measuring.
The process is suitable for many wastewaters witb low CODrrKN ratios and higb nitrogen concentrations. If
tbere are undesired nitrite peaks in an aerobic treatment plant caused by bigh pH values and temperatures,
specific nitrogen elimination by means of nitrite is a reliable treatment system.
KEYWORDS
INTRODUCTION
In Europe, about 4.7 Mio. t starch and starch decay products are produced each year. The main raw materials
used are com (60% of the production) and potatoes and wheat (nearly 20% each). The largest product group
is the true starches with nearly 30%, followed by glucose (23%), isoglucose (13%) and modified starch
(12%). Most starch is employed in the food industry (for example sweets, drinks, fruit manufacturing - total
57%), the paper and paperboard industry (25%), as well as the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (10%).
Whereas a short time ago most of the attention was directed to production processes and commercializing,
nowadays wastewater avoidance and wastewater treatment are becoming more and more important. The cost
share of advanced wastewater treatment in the total production costs amounts to nearly 15%.
The starch wastewaters have high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. In Germany both nutrients must
be largely eliminated, and this will soon apply to the whole of the European Community as far as the
harmonization of environmental protection is concerned.
For purification of industrial wastewaters, especially for starch factories, more and more two-stage
anaerobic-aerobic processes have been used during the last few years. This is useful - for energetic reasons
- when highly concentrated wastewaters are to be treated, as a substantial part of the organic load can be
1 65
Abstract: An anaerobic continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) integrated with an external tubular nanofiltration membrane module was
operated for 466 days. Studies were conducted to compare the efficiencies in flux and operational permeability recovery of two different
chemical cleaning processes. Chemically enhanced backwashes (CEBs) were applied for approximately 176 days of the study and their
influence on chemical cleaning performance and membrane fouling rate following chemical cleanings were also investigated. The anaerobic
nanofiltration membrane bioreactor used in the study was fed a high-strength, potato starch–based synthetic wastewater (average chemical
oxygen demand of 83.4 g=L and average total suspended solids of 5.8 g=L). Important findings were that a static, one-phase cleaning process
using caustic cleaning chemicals outperformed a dynamic, three-phase cleaning process that also incorporated acidic cleaning chemicals; the
acidic phase of the three-phase cleaning had a detrimental effect on the overall cleaning procedure’s performance; CEBs enhanced the per-
formance of cleaning processes; and, finally, caustic cleaning solutions provided benefits to both membrane cleaning effectiveness and rate of
fouling in the short term but may lead to an increased rate of membrane fouling in the long term. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-
7870.0001524. © 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
Author keywords: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Chemical cleaning; Chemically enhanced backwash; Membrane fouling;
Nanofiltration membrane.
chemical cleaning process. Finally, the chemicals used outline the module were also measured. These values allowed the MLF
exact concentration of chemical cleaning solutions applied to the and MLOP to be calculated. The mixed-liquor recoveries were
membrane module during each cleaning condition. calculated by dividing the post–chemical cleaning MLF or post–
Clean water flux was measured by isolating the CSTR recircu- chemical cleaning MLOP values by the initial MLF or initial
lation line from the CSTR itself, allowing a 50-L tank to be filled MLOP values measured on Day 2 of operation, and then multiply-
with clean water (maintained at around 30°C) and filtered through ing by 100. Equations used to calculate clean water and mixed-
the membrane module. Each clean water test recirculated the clean liquor recoveries are displayed in Eqs. (2) and (3), respectively:
water at five flow rates in increasing order (790, 1,580, 2,360,
3,150, and 3,940 L=h), and the resultant membrane fluxes and J; OPPC
TMPs were measured. Five different increasing flow rates were se- CW J;OP ð%Þ ¼ × 100 ð2Þ
J; OPo
lected to provide incremental increases in flux and TMP, reaching
the maximum flow rate of the recirculation loop at approximately
3,940 L=h. Operational permeability is defined as membrane flux
divided by instantaneous operational TMP, in other words pressure- J; OPPC
MLJ;OP ð%Þ ¼ × 100 ð3Þ
averaged flux, and may be defined by Eq. (1) (Hamden de Andrade J; OPo
et al. 2013):
Ji In Eq. (2), CW J;OP is the clean water flux or operational per-
OPi ¼ ð1Þ
ΔPi meability recovery (%), J; OPPC is the post–membrane cleaning
clean water membrane flux or clean water operational permeability
In Eq. (1), OPi is the instantaneous operational permeability (L=m2 =h, L=m2 =h=bar), and J, OPo is the initial clean water mem-
(L=m2 =h=bar), J i is the instantaneous membrane flux (L=m2 =h), brane flux or clean water operational permeability (L=m2 =h,
and ΔPi is the instantaneous transmembrane pressure (bar). Opera- L=m2 =h=bar). In Eq. (3), MLJ;OP is the mixed-liquor flux or opera-
tional permeability was considered so that TMP could be factored tional permeability recovery (%), J; OPPC is the post–membrane
into the flux recovery analysis. Clean water recoveries were calcu- cleaning mixed-liquor membrane flux or mixed-liquor operational
lated by dividing the post–chemical cleaning clean water flux or permeability (L=m2 =h, L=m2 =h=bar), and J; OPo is the initial
post–chemical cleaning clean water OP by the initial clean water mixed-liquor membrane flux or mixed-liquor operational per-
flux or initial OP values measured on Day 1 of operation, and then meability (L=m2 =h, L=m2 =h=bar).
multiplying by 100. Once the membrane module was placed back Membrane resistance coefficients were calculated using the
inline for mixed-liquor recirculation, and after 24 h of recirculation resistance-in-series model [Eq. (4)]. This equation was adopted and
at a flow rate of 6,000 L=h, the flux and TMP of the membrane developed from other studies (Ruigomez et al. 2017):
ANAEROBIC-AEROBIC TREATMENT OF
POTATO-STARCH WASTEWATER
ABSTRACT
Production of potato starch produces wastewaters witb high concentrations of COD, nitrogen and
phosphorus. The best known and most economical solution for tbe nearly full elimination of tbese substances
is tbe two-stage anaerobic-aerobic treatment. The anaerobic pretreatment must only go so far as to maintain
enougb COD for biological nitrogen and phosphorus elimination in tbe aerobic stage. To optimize tbis
process, several tests have been carried out on nitrification/denitrification by means of tbe intermediate
product nitrite. The carbon consumption amounts to only 60% in comparison witb denitrification via nitrate.
The essential parameter for regulating tbe process is tbe concentration of free ammonia in tbe reactor.
Concentrations of I to 5mg NH31l inhibit tbe nitratation but not tbe nitritation. A separation of botb partial
steps is possible. The content of ammonia was controlled by means of continuous NH4 and pH measuring.
The process is suitable for many wastewaters witb low CODrrKN ratios and higb nitrogen concentrations. If
tbere are undesired nitrite peaks in an aerobic treatment plant caused by bigh pH values and temperatures,
specific nitrogen elimination by means of nitrite is a reliable treatment system.
KEYWORDS
INTRODUCTION
In Europe, about 4.7 Mio. t starch and starch decay products are produced each year. The main raw materials
used are com (60% of the production) and potatoes and wheat (nearly 20% each). The largest product group
is the true starches with nearly 30%, followed by glucose (23%), isoglucose (13%) and modified starch
(12%). Most starch is employed in the food industry (for example sweets, drinks, fruit manufacturing - total
57%), the paper and paperboard industry (25%), as well as the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (10%).
Whereas a short time ago most of the attention was directed to production processes and commercializing,
nowadays wastewater avoidance and wastewater treatment are becoming more and more important. The cost
share of advanced wastewater treatment in the total production costs amounts to nearly 15%.
The starch wastewaters have high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. In Germany both nutrients must
be largely eliminated, and this will soon apply to the whole of the European Community as far as the
harmonization of environmental protection is concerned.
For purification of industrial wastewaters, especially for starch factories, more and more two-stage
anaerobic-aerobic processes have been used during the last few years. This is useful - for energetic reasons
- when highly concentrated wastewaters are to be treated, as a substantial part of the organic load can be
1 65
Potato-starch wastewater 167
pH-Value 6 - 7 6 - 7 5 - 6
COD [mg/l] 2,000 - 4,000 4,000 - 8,000 50,000 - 60,000 (25,000 - 30,000)
TKN [mg/l] 150 - 30 150 - 600 3,600 - 4,400 (1,800 - 2,200)
tot. P [mg/l] 20 - 40 20 - 40 800 - 1,000 (400 - 500)
The washing water resulting from potato washing is recycled. The solid matter (earth, plant parts etc.) is
eliminated in a sedimentation tank, and any lost part of the water is substituted by fresh water continuously.
The longer the campaign lasts, COD and TKN concentration increases, because the potato quality decreases
for the reason of storage. The process water (starch washing water) contains the contamination component
fme starch, which cannot be gained. The main component of the high strength potato juice is protein. It goes
into a protein extraction, where about 50% of the protein is coagulated, separated, dried and packed for sale.
A still highly contaminated wastewater with 25-30g CODn remains.
Modern manufacturers use circular movement of the water during washing and starch extraction to reduce
the specific wastewater quantities to keep the values preferably in the low regions of the range in Table 1.
The application of an effective technique for starch extraction also reduces the concentrations. Anyway, in
the field of potato juice the technical limits are reached by reducing the concentration by 50% by means of
protein extraction. The wastewater percentage is also layed down by the water content of the potatoes and
changes only slightly. Table 2 shows the specific wastewater quantities and concentrations of a potato starch
factory which was opened in 1987 in Germany (Liichow). The treatment capacity amounts to 300 000
t1campaign (end August until mid March).
3302 F. Béline et al. / Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 3298–3308
Fig. 5. Experimental and simulated nitrogen concentrations during the cycles of run 1, 2 and 3.
anoxic heterotrophic yield of 0.53 was used instead of aero- forms of nitrogen (NO
2 and NO3 ) was not correctly simu-
bic heterotrophic yield of 0.6, leading to a lower need of lated during the anoxic phase of run 3 (Fig. 5). For a better
COD for denitrification. Even if this difference seems low, modelling result, a distinction between the heterotrophic
it is not negligible and particularly important with nitrogen biomass reducing NO
3 to NO2 and the heterotrophic
concentrated effluent and sequential batch reactors. More- biomass reducing NO2 to N2 would probably be necessary
over, the difference of oxygen half-saturation constant for (Huang and Hao, 1996). The influence of organic matter
ammonium and nitrite oxidisers previously observed (Wies- limitation on nitrite accumulation during denitrification (Oh
mann, 1994) was confirmed during this work. and Silverstein, 1999) could also be considered in order to
However, some model limitations were observed during improve the simulations. Finally, during this work, the
this work and would require more research. During this developed model was calibrated and validated using only
study, the simulations were performed using a constant two piggery wastewaters with different compositions. Addi-
temperature while the temperature varied in the experimen- tional works using others piggery wastewaters and longer
tal reactor. The variation of temperature, mainly during run HRT would allow to improve the model.
F. Béline et al. / Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 3298–3308 3305
Appendix A
A.1. Process kinetics for organic matter oxidation, nitrification and denitrification
A.2. Process stoichiometry for organic matter oxidation, nitrification and denitrification
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
SI SS XI XS XBHI XBAI XBAA XP SO SNOI SNOA SNH SND XND XNI
1 ð1Y H Þ
q1 YH 1 YH iBN
1 1Y HD
q2 Y HD 1 1:71Y HD
iBN
1 1Y HD 1Y HD
q3 Y HD 1 1:14Y HD
1:14Y HD
iBN
q4 1 3:43Y
Y AI
AI 1
Y AI iBN Y1AI
q5 1 1:14Y
Y AA
AA
Y 1AA 1
Y AA iBN
q6 1 fP 1 fP iBN fP fP Æ iBN
Æ iBN
q7 1 fP 1 fP iBN fP fP Æ iBN
Æ iBN
q8 1 fP 1 fP iBN fP fP Æ iBN
Æ iBN
q9 1 1
q10 1 1
q11 1 1
A.3. Default values at 20 C for the model and parameters used for simulating run 1, 2 and 3 (-: default value was used)
treatment using sequencing batch reactors. Water Res. 38, 3340– Peu, P., Béline, F., Martinez, J., 2004. Volatile fatty acids analysis from
3348. pig slurry using high performance liquid chromatography. Int. J.
Lee, S.M., Jung, J.Y., Chung, Y.C., 2000. Measurement of ammonia Environ. An. Ch. 84 (13), 1017–1022.
inhibition of microbial activity in biological wastewater treatment Sollfrank, U., Gujer, W., 1991. Characterisation of domestic wastewater
process using dehydrogenase assay. Biotechnol. Lett. 22, 991–994. for mathematical modelling of the activated sludge process. Water Sci.
Nielsen, P.H., 1996. Adsorption of ammonium to activated sludge. Water Technol. 23, 1057–1066.
Res. 30 (3), 762–764. Villaverde, S., Fdz-Polanco, F., Garcia, P.A., 2000. Nitrifying biofilm
Oh, J., Silverstein, J., 1999. Acetate limitation and nitrite accumulation acclimatation to free ammonia in submerged biofilters: start-up
during denitrification. J. Environ. Eng. ASCE 125 (3), 234–242. influence. Water Res. 34, 602–610.
Orhon, D., 1998. Evaluation of industrial biological treatment design on Wiesmann, U., 1994. Biological nitrogen removal from wastewater.
the basis of process modelling. Water Sci. Technol. 38 (4–5), 1–8. Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biot. 51, 113–154.
Orhon, D., Okutman, D., 2003. Respirometric assessment of residual organic Wilderer, P.A., Jones, W.L., Dau, U., 1987. Competition in denitrification
matter for domestic sewage. Enzyme Microb. Tech. 32 (5), 560–566. systems affecting reduction rate and accumulation of nitrite. Water
Orhon, D., Sozen, S., Artan, N., 1996. The effect of heterotrophic yield on Res. 21, 239–245.
the assessment of the correction factor for anoxic growth. Water Sci.
Technol. 34 (5–6), 67–74.
166 U. ABELING and C. F. SEYFRIED
removed anaerobically, hereby producing methane gas. Only the pollution finally remaining has to be
eliminated aerobically by using certain aeration energy.
The combined anaerobic-aerobic technology is the most economical solution for as long as only the removal
of carbon compounds is concerned. With regard to the elimination of nitrogen and phosphorus, however, this
process is problematic, as no nitrogen and phosphorus removal worth mentioning takes place during the
elimination of the greater part of the carbon compounds in the anaerobic pretreatment. The BODIN ratio
decreased from 9:1 to nearly 1:1, the BOD:P ratio from 50:1 to 5:1. It is no problem to nitrify the
ammonium in the following aerobic treatment stage, but denitrification and biological phosphorus removal
are often incomplete, possibly due to the low content of organic carbon compounds. Phosphorus may be
eliminated by precipitation with lime or metal ions, whereas the chemicaVphysical methods for ammonium
elimination cause many problems with the resulting products. A total nitrification, however, as well as a
denitrification as far as possible and an effluent concentration of 1 or 2mg PIl, is prescribed in Germany for
most industrial wastewaters (alcohol and food production (pectin, potato, starch and sugar processing
industry, slaughter-houses etc.), pulp and paper industry, animal waste).
In order to achieve a total denitrification sometimes external carbon sources (methanol, acetic acid) are used
(very expensive). In practice, anaerobic pretreatment is often evaded by means of a bypass, but this causes a
lower gas production and also sometimes problems concerning the sludge composition (bulking) in the
aerobic stage.
Our investigations aimed to realize a process which enables total denitrification in spite of far-reaching
anaerobic pre-elimination. In contrast to the process which has been used so far, nitrification/denitrification
was carried out with assistance of the intermediate product nitrate. The carbon consumption amounts to only
60% in comparison with denitrification via nitrate. The essential parameter for regulating the process is the
concentration of free ammonia in the reactor (controlled by means of continuous NH4 and pH measuring).
Concentrations of 1 to 5mg NHyt inhibit the nitratation but not the nitritation.
The experiments were carried out in half-technical pilot plants for a period of three years, using the
wastewater of a potato starch factory. At the same time detailed examinations were made in laboratories
with regard to the kinetics and to the inhibition of nitrification/denitrification by NH3 and HN02. The new
process is available for all wastewaters with high ammonium concentrations and pH > 7.5, which often
cause problems concerning the inhibition of nitrogen removal dependent on high nitrite or ammonium
concentrations.
Wastewater Production
During potato starch production, there are three partial wastewater streams with different concentrations of
COD, TKN and P. Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of potato starch production. The concentrations and
specific wastewater quantities are listed in Table 1.
168 U. ABELING and C. F. SEYFRIED
I 1.93 113
Treatment Process
The biological treatment of process and washing waters poses no considerable problems. The treatment is
for example carried out in wastewater ponds or activated sludge plants (inside the factory or together with
domestic sewages). Because of the nematodes contained in the washing water (parasites of the potatoes),
agricultural utilization of sewage sludge which had not been subject to anaerobic treatment is only possible
on areas which are not used for potato cultivation.
The high contents of organic carbons and the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus in the potato juice usually
require multi-stage treatment processes. The application by rain gun of the potato which used to happen in
the past, is nowadays possible within certain limits for reasons of ground water protection. The largest
wastewater quantities are produced in the winter i.e. in the vegetationless period, and cannot be absorbed by
the plants. To reach the necessary input values, an aerobic biological treatment stage occurs. The following
processes are suitable for pretreatment:
- Membrane fIltration
- Vaporization
- Anaerobic treatment
Upgrading of the potato juice is very energy-consuming and is economical only if the final waste disposal
product is commercial in the long term. Direct utilization of the vaporization concentrate as cattle food fails
for example because of the high salt contents. The precipitation of phosphorus and ammonium (e.g.
magnesium-ammonium-phosphate) is only possible if first all organic bound nitrogen and phosphorus are
transferred to the mineral form. In these respects, the anaerobic treatment gains more and more importance.
On the one hand, the mineralization of the nutrients takes place in the anaerobic process, on the other hand
the anaerobic technique gives the possibility to reduce the COD concentration by extraction of biogas as far
as to allow an economical aerobic post-treatment. Examples of such combined anerobic-aerobic processes
are described in Nanninga and Gottschal (1986); Seyfried and Austermann-Haun (1990) and Austermann
Haun (1990).
For the wastewater treatment of the potato starch factory built in 1987 in Llichow, an anaerobic plant has
been constructed (fixed bed circulating reactors, system KWU). The pretreated wastewater is being treated
in the new-built municipal treatment plant with biological nitrogen and phosphorus elimination to reach
recipient qUality. Figure 2 shows the process scheme of the anaerobic plant.
The washing water is led directly to the aerobic stage, while the coagulated potato juice and the process
water are subject to anaerobic pretreatment. Until now, the planned degrading percentage (nCOD 70-80%)
=
could not yet be reached, considering the space load of 20-30kg COD/m3.d. The efficiency is between 50%
and 60%. The solid matter separation (coagulated protein) after acidification causes problems. By
application of the second lamella separator, a certain improvement was achieved. Furthermore, the plant has
been extended by a buffer tank (l000m3). For the purposes of capacity extension, in 1992 the construction of
an additional anaerobic reactor (V 1800m3, fixed fIlm with plastic media) was started. This reactor was
=
Introduction anaerobic systems such as high concentration of biomass retention
(as the effectiveness of biomass retention becomes independent of
With an ever-growing population, sustainable water and waste- sludge settleability due to membranes’ near-complete solid–liquid
water treatment technologies will become essential in solving water separation capabilities), compact design, and, most importantly, the
scarcity problems prone to develop in upcoming years. Anaerobic ability to produce a superior quality effluent for possible recycle
membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) offer a promising means of or high-quality discharge to meet stringent wastewater disposal
sustainable and value-added wastewater treatment, coalescing the regulations (Skouteris et al. 2012).
benefits of anaerobic digestion for the treatment of municipal and What continues to remain the most significant factor limiting the
industrial wastewaters with the almost 100% solid–liquid separa- cost effectiveness of membranes in wastewater treatment applica-
tion potential of membrane integrated wastewater treatment tech- tions (both municipal and industrial) is membrane fouling (Ramos
nologies. Anaerobic digestion for wastewater treatment provides et al. 2014). Membrane fouling may be defined as the combination
certain benefits over more commonly used conventional aerobic of processes leading to flux deterioration and transmembrane pres-
technologies, such as high-rate suspended-growth systems, very sure (TMP) increase due to surface or internal pore blockage of the
high removal efficiencies of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) membrane (Lousada-Ferreira et al. 2014). Surface or internal pore
and chemical oxygen demand (COD), resource recovery (value- blockage is generated through the contact and deposition of sus-
added products such as methane in its biogas and the possible pended particles, colloids, and solutes present in the mixed liquor
recovery of select biochemicals such as volatile fatty acids in its on the membrane surface or in its pores, henceforth referred to as
mixed-liquor and effluent), lower sludge yield, and low carbon foulants (Iorhemen et al. 2016). Membrane fouling increases TMP
footprint (Kinnunen et al. 2015; Meng et al. 2009; Ozgun et al. and decreases flux, while the control of foulant deposition increases
2013; Pilli et al. 2016; Skouteris et al. 2012). Through the integra- manpower and energy requirements, demands costly chemical
tion of membrane separation technologies within anaerobic di- cleaning (that further requires waste handling), and may also
gestion, further benefits are provided over non-membrane-based result in increased deterioration of the membrane material, affecting
its lifespan (Ramos et al. 2014). Foulant mitigation for a membrane
1
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of New module is a two-pronged approach: first, the membrane-fouling
Brunswick, 17 Dineen Dr., Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3 (corre- rate should be minimized, and second, technologies to restore the
sponding author). Email: h557d@unb.ca flux of a fouled membrane must be implemented (Liao et al. 2006).
2
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of New Brunswick, 17 Physical cleaning processes (e.g., gas scouring, backwashing,
Dineen Dr., Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3. Email: singhk@unb.ca relaxation) have only proven to be effective at removing some pore-
3
Process Engineer, ADI Systems, Inc., 370 Wilsey Rd., Fredericton,
clogging and cake-layer membrane foulants (Liao et al. 2006).
NB, Canada E3B 6E9. Email: gustavo.zanatta@evoqua.com
Note. This manuscript was submitted on July 18, 2018; approved on Chemical cleanings, using low- to moderate-strength corrosive or
October 26, 2018; published online on March 6, 2019. Discussion period caustic solutions, are highly effective at removing both the gel layer
open until August 6, 2019; separate discussions must be submitted and cake layer developed through solids deposition on the mem-
for individual papers. This paper is part of the Journal of Environmental brane surface and pore-blocking foulants, making them typically
Engineering, © ASCE, ISSN 0733-9372. more efficient at recovering membrane flux. These chemical
chemical cleaning process. Finally, the chemicals used outline the module were also measured. These values allowed the MLF
exact concentration of chemical cleaning solutions applied to the and MLOP to be calculated. The mixed-liquor recoveries were
membrane module during each cleaning condition. calculated by dividing the post–chemical cleaning MLF or post–
Clean water flux was measured by isolating the CSTR recircu- chemical cleaning MLOP values by the initial MLF or initial
lation line from the CSTR itself, allowing a 50-L tank to be filled MLOP values measured on Day 2 of operation, and then multiply-
with clean water (maintained at around 30°C) and filtered through ing by 100. Equations used to calculate clean water and mixed-
the membrane module. Each clean water test recirculated the clean liquor recoveries are displayed in Eqs. (2) and (3), respectively:
water at five flow rates in increasing order (790, 1,580, 2,360,
3,150, and 3,940 L=h), and the resultant membrane fluxes and J; OPPC
TMPs were measured. Five different increasing flow rates were se- CW J;OP ð%Þ ¼ × 100 ð2Þ
J; OPo
lected to provide incremental increases in flux and TMP, reaching
the maximum flow rate of the recirculation loop at approximately
3,940 L=h. Operational permeability is defined as membrane flux
divided by instantaneous operational TMP, in other words pressure- J; OPPC
MLJ;OP ð%Þ ¼ × 100 ð3Þ
averaged flux, and may be defined by Eq. (1) (Hamden de Andrade J; OPo
et al. 2013):
Ji In Eq. (2), CW J;OP is the clean water flux or operational per-
OPi ¼ ð1Þ
ΔPi meability recovery (%), J; OPPC is the post–membrane cleaning
clean water membrane flux or clean water operational permeability
In Eq. (1), OPi is the instantaneous operational permeability (L=m2 =h, L=m2 =h=bar), and J, OPo is the initial clean water mem-
(L=m2 =h=bar), J i is the instantaneous membrane flux (L=m2 =h), brane flux or clean water operational permeability (L=m2 =h,
and ΔPi is the instantaneous transmembrane pressure (bar). Opera- L=m2 =h=bar). In Eq. (3), MLJ;OP is the mixed-liquor flux or opera-
tional permeability was considered so that TMP could be factored tional permeability recovery (%), J; OPPC is the post–membrane
into the flux recovery analysis. Clean water recoveries were calcu- cleaning mixed-liquor membrane flux or mixed-liquor operational
lated by dividing the post–chemical cleaning clean water flux or permeability (L=m2 =h, L=m2 =h=bar), and J; OPo is the initial
post–chemical cleaning clean water OP by the initial clean water mixed-liquor membrane flux or mixed-liquor operational per-
flux or initial OP values measured on Day 1 of operation, and then meability (L=m2 =h, L=m2 =h=bar).
multiplying by 100. Once the membrane module was placed back Membrane resistance coefficients were calculated using the
inline for mixed-liquor recirculation, and after 24 h of recirculation resistance-in-series model [Eq. (4)]. This equation was adopted and
at a flow rate of 6,000 L=h, the flux and TMP of the membrane developed from other studies (Ruigomez et al. 2017):
known amount of piggery wastewater was added in the the reactor reached steady-state conditions (after more
reactor through a buffer tank where the quantity added than three hydraulic residence times), the characterisation
was weighed and recorded. The reactor was equipped with of the effluent was done (COD, soluble COD and total
a foam breaker working during the aerobic phases and a nitrogen) and was followed by a study of the evolution
fine bubbles diffuser fed with a compressor (2–5 m3 h1). of NHþ
4 , NO2 and NO3 in the reactor, during one
For the mixing, a centrifugal pump (30 m3 h1) circulated cycle.
the activated sludge, during the anoxic phases from the Immediately after run 1, a second study of the evolution
bottom to the top of the reactor. Water was continuously of NHþ 4 , NO2 and NO3 , during one cycle, was performed
added in the reactor (65 l per day) to compensate for the (run 2). At the beginning of this cycle, 1 l of ammonium
evaporation caused by the high temperature and the aera- carbonate solution (13.5 kg N m3) was added in the reac-
tion. At the end of each cycle, an amount of the activated tor during the feeding phase, together with the piggery
sludge equal to the piggery wastewater added at the begin- wastewater (PW1). For this experiment, the other experi-
ning of the cycle was withdrawn from the reactor. The bio- mental conditions were similar to run 1.
logical reactor was equipped with on-line measurements of For run 3, as for run 1, the reactor was initially filled
DO (WTW Oxi197 oxygen meter), temperature (Ponselle with 50 l of activated sludge coming from the same farm
PONAPF-TTRANS), oxidation–reduction potential (Pon- and 50 l of tap water. About 600 l of raw piggery waste-
selle PONAPF-EHTRANS) and pH (Ponselle PONAPF- water was collected in an experimental farm near Rennes
PHTRANS) allowing measurements at 10 min. intervals. (France) and was mechanically sieved (1 mm) using a
The system operated without sludge recirculation nor rotary screen. The liquid fraction called piggery wastewater
decantation in the reactor, leading to a solids retention 2 (PW2) was stored at 4 C and was used for run 3. For this
time equal to the hydraulic retention time. For each exper- run, the duration of a cycle was equal to 12 h, consisting of
iment, each whole-cycle of the modified SBR was scheduled 7 h of anoxic conditions and 5 h of aerobic conditions. At
as follows: the beginning of each cycle, 4.4 l of PW2 was added in the
reactor, leading to a working volume of 104.4 l and a HRT
• a feeding phase, equal to 11.9 days. At the end of each cycle, the same
• an anoxic phase, amount of activated sludge was withdrawn. A characterisa-
• an aerobic phase, tion of the effluent (COD, soluble COD and total nitrogen)
• a withdrawal phase. and a study of the evolution of NHþ 4 , NO2 and NO3 dur-
ing a cycle, were performed when more than 3 hydraulic
residence times had passed.
2.2. Experimental The main characteristics of each piggery wastewater
used in this study are presented in Table 2.
During this study, three experiments were carried out
using the pilot-scale modified SBR (Table 1).
Table 2
For run 1, the reactor was filled with 50 l of activated Characteristics of the piggery wastewaters
sludge coming from a farm equipped with a modified
Variable PW1 PW2
SBR at the beginning of the experiment. The reactor
3
was supplemented with 50 l of tap water. At the same TS, kg m 54.0 (0.4) 31.1 (–)
VS, kg m3 42.5 (1.0) 20.1 (–)
time, about 600 l of raw piggery wastewaters were col-
COD, kg O2 m3 50.6 (0.3) 39.4 (1.0)
lected and were manually sieved (5 mm mesh). The liquid CODs, kg O2 m3 21.8 (0.1) 14.8 (0.4)
fraction called piggery wastewater 1 (PW1) was stored VFA, kg O2 m3 10.7 (0.2) 6.2 (–)
3
at 4 C and was used for this experiment. For this run, NHþ 4 N (or SNH), kg N m 3.0 (0.1) 3.4 (0.1)
the duration of a whole-cycle was equal to 24 h consisting NO2 N (or SNOI), kg N m3 0 0
NO 3 N (or SNOA), kg N m
3
0 0
of 4 h of anoxic conditions and 20 h of aerobic conditions.
TN–N, kg N m3 4.6 (0.1) 4.3 (0.05)
At the beginning of each cycle, 10 l of PW1 were added SS, kg O2 m3 5.2 (0.5) 6.0 (1.0)
in the reactor, leading to a working volume of 110 l and XS, kg O2 m3 14.1 (3.6) 23.9 (1.4)
a HRT equal to 11 days. At the end of each cycle the Inert COD, kg O2 m3 31.3 (3.4) 9.5 (1.4)
same amount of activated sludge was withdrawn. When Standard errors shown in parenthesis, n = 5.
Table 1
Summary of the conditions during the three experiments carried out with the pilot-scale modified SBR
Runs PW HRT (days) P1 (h) P2 (h) P3 (h) P4 (h) Observations
1 1 11.0 0.1 3.9 19.9 0.1 Effluent characterisation and study of a cycle
2 1 11.0 0.1 3.9 19.9 0.1 Study of a cycle (ammonium carbonate was added)
3 2 11.9 0.1 6.9 4.9 0.1 Effluent characterisation and study of a cycle
PW: piggery wastewater, P1: feeding phase, P2: anoxic phase, P3: aerobic phase, P4: withdrawal phase.
F. Béline et al. / Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 3298–3308 3301
AS-Model1.0 (see Web references). The integration routine corresponded to the amount added at the beginning of
was chosen automatically by the software. A run time of each cycle. The NHþ 4NO–AV was probably organic nitrogen
more than three times the HRT was used to establish the considered as NHþ 4 because of an analytical error (steam
pseudosteady-state conditions. For the calibration of the distillation).
model, the parameters were estimated manually by com- As shown in Fig. 2, the NO 3 concentration decreased
paring the simulated output with the experimental data quickly from 210 to 0 mg N l1 during the anoxic phase.
1
until the best fit was achieved. Concurrently, an accumulation of NO 2 up to 115 mg N l
occured. During the aerobic phase, an increase of NO 3
3. Results and discussion from 0 to 220 mg N l1 was obtained and an accumulation
1
of NO 2 up to 110 mg N l was also observed. The same
3.1. Experimental results evolution of nitrogen, particularly the accumulation of
NO 2 during the nitrification and the denitrification, was
The evolution of the nitrogen species during a cycle was observed for all runs and was previously described by
used for a better characterisation of processes involved in several authors (Andreottola et al., 1997; Kim et al.,
the nitrogen transformations. As an example, the evolution 2004; Huang and Hao, 1996).
of the nitrogen forms during run 1 is presented in Fig. 2. Concerning the denitrification process, various environ-
At the beginning of the cycle, the addition of piggery mental factors were found to be responsible for nitrite
wastewater in the reactor led to an increase of NHþ4TOT from
accumulation: the type and quantity of organic substrate,
163 to 465 mg N l1 and an increase of NHþ 4SOL from 0 to oxygen, pH, nitrate availability, and temperature (Wilderer
170 mg N l1. After the addition of piggery wastewater, et al., 1987; Oh and Silverstein, 1999).
both NHþ þ
4TOT and NH4SOL concentrations were quite stable
During the nitrification process, a partial inhibition of
during the anoxic phase. During the aerobic phase, both the NO 2 oxidisers by the free ammonia or by the nitrous
concentrations decreased simultaneously, probably due acid (Andreottola et al., 1997; Abeling and Seyfried,
to the nitrification process. At the beginning of the cycle, 1992) could induce the observed accumulation of NO 2.
the quantity of NHþ þ
4 found as soluble (18 gNH4SOL N)
During our experiments, and more generally during the
in comparison with the added quantity as soluble treatment of piggery wastewaters, the pH (higher than
(30 gNHþ 4SOL N) showed that a part was probably
7.5–8) led to nitrous acid concentrations lower than the
3302 F. Béline et al. / Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 3298–3308
Appendix (continued)
Symbol Definition Default Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Ref.
value
fp Fraction of biomass leading to inert 0.08 – – – Henze et al. (2000)
particulate products (dimensionless)
iBN Mass of nitrogen per mass of 0.086 – – – Henze et al. (2000)
COD (g N g COD1)
YAI Yield for NHþ 4 oxidisers autotrophic 0.15 – – – Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (g COD g N1) Hao et al. (2002a)
lAI Maximum specific growth rate for NHþ 4 0.8 – – – Hao et al. (2002b);
oxidisers autotrophic biomass (day1) Hao et al. (2002a)
bAI Decay coefficient for XBAI autotrophic 0.05 – – – Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (day1) Hao et al. (2002a)
KOAI SO half-saturation coefficient for XBAI 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (g COD m3) Hao et al. (2002a)
KNAI SNH half-saturation coefficient for XBAI 2.4 5 5 5 Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (g N m3) Hao et al. (2002a)
YAA Yield for NO 2 oxidisers autotrophic 0.041 – – – Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (g COD g N1) Hao et al. (2002a)
lAA Maximum specific growth rate for NO 2 0.79 – – – Hao et al. (2002b);
oxidisers autotrophic biomass (day1) Hao et al. (2002a)
bAA Decay coefficient for XBAA autotrophic 0.033 – – – Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (day1) Hao et al. (2002a)
KOAA SO half-saturation coefficient for XBAA 2.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (g COD m3) Hao et al. (2002a)
KNAA SNOI half-saturation coefficient for XBAA 5 2.5 2.5 2.5 Hao et al. (2002b);
biomass (g N m3) Hao et al. (2002a)
References Bremner, J.M., Keeney, D.R., 1965. Steam distillation methods for
determination of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite. Anal. Chim. Acta
Abeling, U., Seyfried, C.F., 1992. Anaerobic–aerobic treatment of high- 32, 485–495.
strength ammonium waste-water nitrogen removal via nitrite. Water Choi, E., Eum, Y., 2002. Strategy for nitrogen removal from piggery
Sci. Technol. 26 (5–6), 1007–1015. waste. Water Sci. Technol. 46 (6–7), 347–354.
Andreottola, G., Bortone, G., Tilche, A., 1997. Experimental validation of Coelho, M.A.Z., Russo, C., Araujo, O.Q.F., 2000. Optimization of a
a simulation and design model for nitrogen removal in sequencing sequencing batch reactor for biological nitrogen removal. Water Res.
batch reactors. Water Sci. Technol. 35 (1), 113–120. 34, 2809–2817.
Anthonisen, A.C., Loehr, R.C., Prakasam, T.B.S., Srinath, E.G., 1976. Gujer, W., Henze, M., Mino, T., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M., 1999.
Inhibition of nitrification by ammonia and nitrous acid. J. Water Activated sludge model N3. Water Sci. Technol. 39 (1), 183–193.
Pollut. Con. F. 48 (5), 835–852. Hao, X., Heijnen, J.J., Van Loosdrecht, M.C.M., 2002a. Model-based
APHA, 1992. Standard methods for the examination of water and evaluation of temperature and inflow variations on a partial nitrifica-
wastewater. 18th ed., American Public Health Association, Washing- tion-anammox biofilm process. Water Res. 36, 4839–4889.
ton DC, USA. Hao, X., Heijnen, J.J., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M., 2002b. Sensitivity
Béline, F., Daumer, M.L., Guiziou, F., 2004. Biological aerobic treatment analysis of a biofilm model describing a one-stage completely
of pig slurry in france: nutrients removal efficiency and separation autotrophic nitrogen removal (canon) process. Biotechnol. Bioeng.
performances. Trans. ASAE 47 (3), 857–864. 77 (3), 266–277.
Bernet, N., Dangcong, P., Delgenes, J.P., Moletta, R., 2001. Nitrification Hellinga, C., Schellen, A.A.J.C., Mulder, J.W., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M.,
at low oxygen concentration in biofilm reactor. J. Environ. Eng. ASCE Heijnen, J.J., 1998. The SHARON process: an innovative method
127 (3), 266–271. for nitrogen removal from ammonium-rich wastewater. Water Sci.
Boursier, H., 2003. Etude et modélisation des processus biologiques au Technol. 37 (9), 135–142.
cours du traitement aérobie du lisier de porcs en vue d’une optimisa- Henze, M., Grady, C.J., Gujer, W., Marais, G.V., Matsuo, T. 1987.
tion du procédé (modelling of biological processes during aerobic Activated sludge model N1. IWAPRC Scientific and Technical
treatment of pig slurry aiming at process optimisation). PhD thesis, Report N1, London.
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse, France. Henze, M., Gujer, W., Mino, T., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M., 2000.
Boursier, H., Béline, F., Paul, E., 2004. Activated sludge model no. 1 Activated sludge models ASM1, ASM2, AsM2d and ASM3. Tech.
calibration for piggery wastewater using respirometry. Water Sci. Rep. 9, IWA Scientific and Technical Report, London.
Technol. 49 (5–6), 389–396. Huang, J., Hao, O.J., 1996. Alternating aerobic-anoxic process for nitrogen
Boursier, H., Béline, F., Paul, E., 2005. Piggery wastewater characterisation removal: dynamic modeling. Water Environ. Res. 68 (1), 94–104.
for biological nitrogen removal process design. Bioresource Technol. Kim, J.H., Chen, M., Kishida, N., Sudo, R., 2004. Integrateds real-
96, 351–358. time control strategy for nitrogen removal in swine wastewater
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treatment using sequencing batch reactors. Water Res. 38, 3340– Peu, P., Béline, F., Martinez, J., 2004. Volatile fatty acids analysis from
3348. pig slurry using high performance liquid chromatography. Int. J.
Lee, S.M., Jung, J.Y., Chung, Y.C., 2000. Measurement of ammonia Environ. An. Ch. 84 (13), 1017–1022.
inhibition of microbial activity in biological wastewater treatment Sollfrank, U., Gujer, W., 1991. Characterisation of domestic wastewater
process using dehydrogenase assay. Biotechnol. Lett. 22, 991–994. for mathematical modelling of the activated sludge process. Water Sci.
Nielsen, P.H., 1996. Adsorption of ammonium to activated sludge. Water Technol. 23, 1057–1066.
Res. 30 (3), 762–764. Villaverde, S., Fdz-Polanco, F., Garcia, P.A., 2000. Nitrifying biofilm
Oh, J., Silverstein, J., 1999. Acetate limitation and nitrite accumulation acclimatation to free ammonia in submerged biofilters: start-up
during denitrification. J. Environ. Eng. ASCE 125 (3), 234–242. influence. Water Res. 34, 602–610.
Orhon, D., 1998. Evaluation of industrial biological treatment design on Wiesmann, U., 1994. Biological nitrogen removal from wastewater.
the basis of process modelling. Water Sci. Technol. 38 (4–5), 1–8. Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biot. 51, 113–154.
Orhon, D., Okutman, D., 2003. Respirometric assessment of residual organic Wilderer, P.A., Jones, W.L., Dau, U., 1987. Competition in denitrification
matter for domestic sewage. Enzyme Microb. Tech. 32 (5), 560–566. systems affecting reduction rate and accumulation of nitrite. Water
Orhon, D., Sozen, S., Artan, N., 1996. The effect of heterotrophic yield on Res. 21, 239–245.
the assessment of the correction factor for anoxic growth. Water Sci.
Technol. 34 (5–6), 67–74.
166 U. ABELING and C. F. SEYFRIED
removed anaerobically, hereby producing methane gas. Only the pollution finally remaining has to be
eliminated aerobically by using certain aeration energy.
The combined anaerobic-aerobic technology is the most economical solution for as long as only the removal
of carbon compounds is concerned. With regard to the elimination of nitrogen and phosphorus, however, this
process is problematic, as no nitrogen and phosphorus removal worth mentioning takes place during the
elimination of the greater part of the carbon compounds in the anaerobic pretreatment. The BODIN ratio
decreased from 9:1 to nearly 1:1, the BOD:P ratio from 50:1 to 5:1. It is no problem to nitrify the
ammonium in the following aerobic treatment stage, but denitrification and biological phosphorus removal
are often incomplete, possibly due to the low content of organic carbon compounds. Phosphorus may be
eliminated by precipitation with lime or metal ions, whereas the chemicaVphysical methods for ammonium
elimination cause many problems with the resulting products. A total nitrification, however, as well as a
denitrification as far as possible and an effluent concentration of 1 or 2mg PIl, is prescribed in Germany for
most industrial wastewaters (alcohol and food production (pectin, potato, starch and sugar processing
industry, slaughter-houses etc.), pulp and paper industry, animal waste).
In order to achieve a total denitrification sometimes external carbon sources (methanol, acetic acid) are used
(very expensive). In practice, anaerobic pretreatment is often evaded by means of a bypass, but this causes a
lower gas production and also sometimes problems concerning the sludge composition (bulking) in the
aerobic stage.
Our investigations aimed to realize a process which enables total denitrification in spite of far-reaching
anaerobic pre-elimination. In contrast to the process which has been used so far, nitrification/denitrification
was carried out with assistance of the intermediate product nitrate. The carbon consumption amounts to only
60% in comparison with denitrification via nitrate. The essential parameter for regulating the process is the
concentration of free ammonia in the reactor (controlled by means of continuous NH4 and pH measuring).
Concentrations of 1 to 5mg NHyt inhibit the nitratation but not the nitritation.
The experiments were carried out in half-technical pilot plants for a period of three years, using the
wastewater of a potato starch factory. At the same time detailed examinations were made in laboratories
with regard to the kinetics and to the inhibition of nitrification/denitrification by NH3 and HN02. The new
process is available for all wastewaters with high ammonium concentrations and pH > 7.5, which often
cause problems concerning the inhibition of nitrogen removal dependent on high nitrite or ammonium
concentrations.
Wastewater Production
During potato starch production, there are three partial wastewater streams with different concentrations of
COD, TKN and P. Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of potato starch production. The concentrations and
specific wastewater quantities are listed in Table 1.
F. Béline et al. / Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 3298–3308 3301
4TOT
163 to 465 mg N l1 and an increase of NHþ 4SOL from 0 to
oxygen, pH, nitrate availability, and temperature (Wilderer
170 mg N l1. After the addition of piggery wastewater, et al., 1987; Oh and Silverstein, 1999).
both NHþ þ
4TOT and NH4SOL concentrations were quite stable
During the nitrification process, a partial inhibition of
during the anoxic phase. During the aerobic phase, both the NO 2 oxidisers by the free ammonia or by the nitrous
concentrations decreased simultaneously, probably due acid (Andreottola et al., 1997; Abeling and Seyfried,
to the nitrification process. At the beginning of the cycle, 1992) could induce the observed accumulation of NO 2.
the quantity of NHþ þ
4 found as soluble (18 gNH4SOL N)
During our experiments, and more generally during the
in comparison with the added quantity as soluble treatment of piggery wastewaters, the pH (higher than
(30 gNHþ 4SOL N) showed that a part was probably
7.5–8) led to nitrous acid concentrations lower than the
3302 F. Béline et al. / Bioresource Technology 98 (2007) 3298–3308
treatment using sequencing batch reactors. Water Res. 38, 3340– Peu, P., Béline, F., Martinez, J., 2004. Volatile fatty acids analysis from
3348. pig slurry using high performance liquid chromatography. Int. J.
Lee, S.M., Jung, J.Y., Chung, Y.C., 2000. Measurement of ammonia Environ. An. Ch. 84 (13), 1017–1022.
inhibition of microbial activity in biological wastewater treatment Sollfrank, U., Gujer, W., 1991. Characterisation of domestic wastewater
process using dehydrogenase assay. Biotechnol. Lett. 22, 991–994. for mathematical modelling of the activated sludge process. Water Sci.
Nielsen, P.H., 1996. Adsorption of ammonium to activated sludge. Water Technol. 23, 1057–1066.
Res. 30 (3), 762–764. Villaverde, S., Fdz-Polanco, F., Garcia, P.A., 2000. Nitrifying biofilm
Oh, J., Silverstein, J., 1999. Acetate limitation and nitrite accumulation acclimatation to free ammonia in submerged biofilters: start-up
during denitrification. J. Environ. Eng. ASCE 125 (3), 234–242. influence. Water Res. 34, 602–610.
Orhon, D., 1998. Evaluation of industrial biological treatment design on Wiesmann, U., 1994. Biological nitrogen removal from wastewater.
the basis of process modelling. Water Sci. Technol. 38 (4–5), 1–8. Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biot. 51, 113–154.
Orhon, D., Okutman, D., 2003. Respirometric assessment of residual organic Wilderer, P.A., Jones, W.L., Dau, U., 1987. Competition in denitrification
matter for domestic sewage. Enzyme Microb. Tech. 32 (5), 560–566. systems affecting reduction rate and accumulation of nitrite. Water
Orhon, D., Sozen, S., Artan, N., 1996. The effect of heterotrophic yield on Res. 21, 239–245.
the assessment of the correction factor for anoxic growth. Water Sci.
Technol. 34 (5–6), 67–74.