Performance evaluation of the sulfur-redox-reaction-activated up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket and down-flow hanging sponge anaerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor system for municipal sewage treatment

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Mar:204:171-176. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.12.052. Epub 2015 Dec 18.

Abstract

A sulfur-redox-reaction-activated up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) system, combined with an anaerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor (A2SBR), has been used for municipal sewage treatment for over 2 years. The present system achieved a removal rate of 95±14% for BOD, 74±22% for total nitrogen, and 78±25% for total phosphorus, including low water temperature conditions. Sludge conversion rates during the operational period were 0.016 and 0.218 g-VSS g-COD-removed(-1) for the UASB, and DHS, respectively, which are similar to a conventional UASB-DHS system, which is not used of sulfur-redox-reaction, for sewage treatment. Using the sulfur-redox reaction made advanced treatment of municipal wastewater with minimal sludge generation possible, even in winter. Furthermore, the occurrence of a unique phenomenon, known as the anaerobic sulfur oxidation reaction, was confirmed in the UASB reactor under the winter season.

Keywords: Anaerobic sulfur oxidation; Denitrification; Low excess sludge; Phosphorus removal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
  • Bioreactors
  • Nitrogen / analysis
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phosphorus
  • Sewage / chemistry*
  • Sulfur / metabolism*
  • Waste Management / instrumentation
  • Waste Management / methods
  • Wastewater / chemistry

Substances

  • Sewage
  • Waste Water
  • Phosphorus
  • Sulfur
  • Nitrogen