This study aimed to propose a segmented influent method to inhibit sludge bulking. The sludge bulking phenomenon was observed in a A2/O coupled system treating municipal wastewater under low temperature (15 ± 0.5)°C. Adopting the segmented inlet water process, the distribution ratio of the inlet flow in the anaerobic zone and the aerobic zone were 2:1 and 1:1, the sludge bulking phenomenon was suppressed. The sludge loading rate (F/M) analysis showed that the F/M of the anaerobic zone with single-point inflow was only 0.15 kg COD·(kg MLSS·d)-1, which was prone to induce sludge bulking. However, the F/M concentration gradient of the system under segmented inlet water conditions was obvious, which could inhibit the sludge bulking caused by low F/M. The effluent removal results showed that the system had high removal rates of COD, NH4+-N, TN, and TP at a flow distribution ratio of 2:1, with average removal rates of 88.85% ± 2.94%, 91.26% ± 6.68%, 76.60% ± 5.60%, and 96.80% ± 2.17%, respectively. This study confirmed that the segment inlet method inhibited sludge bulking, while the flow distribution ratio of 2:1 also ensured efficient pollutant removal capacity of the system.
Keywords: A2/O coupled process; low temperature; segmented inlet water; sludge bulking; wastewater treatment.