Investigating upflow anaerobic sludge blanket process to treat forward osmosis effluents of concentrated municipal wastewater under psychrophilic temperature.

This work investigated the stability of the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor under psychrophilic temperatures with varying feed streams, simulating typical and concentrated sewage. In Phase I, treating municipal wastewater, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal dropped from 77 ± 6 % to 41 ± 2 % as hydraulic retention time decreased from 24 to 12 h and organic loading rate (OLR) increased from 0.6 to 1.

Comparing the performance of microbial electrochemical assisted and aerated treatment wetlands in pilot-scale: Removal of major pollutants and organic micropollutants.

The combination of treatment wetlands (TWs) with microbial electrochemical technologies (MET) is often studied in the lab to improve the performance and decrease the footprint of TWs. In this article we evaluated the long-term performance of four pilot-scale vertical sub-surface flow TWs for major pollutants' and organic micropollutants' removal from domestic wastewater. Three of them were filled with electroconductive material and operated under saturated (MET SAT), unsaturated (MET UNSAT) and unsaturated-saturated (MET HYBRID) conditions while the fourth one was a saturated intensified aerated system (AEW) filled with gravel.

Development of an integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor treating landfill leachate for the biological nitrogen removal through nitritation-denitritation.

The current work investigated the performance of an Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge Sequencing Batch Reactor (IFAS-SBR) for Biological Nitrogen Removal (BNR) from mature landfill leachate through the nitritation-denitritation process. During the experimental period two IFAS-SBR configurations were examined using two different biocarrier types with the same filling ratio (50%). The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration ranged between 2 and 3 mg/L and 4-6 mg/L in the first (baseline-IFAS) and the second (S8-IFAS) setup, respectively.

Evaluating an integrated nano zero-valent iron column system for emerging contaminants removal from different wastewater matrices - Identification of transformation products.

The presence of micropollutants in water bodies has become a growing concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and potential toxicological effects on aquatic life and humans. In this study, the performance of a column system consisting of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) incorporated into a cationic resin and synthesized from green tea extract with the addition of persulfate for the elimination of selected pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors from wastewater is evaluated. Ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and ketoprofen were the target pharmaceuticals from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs group, while bisphenol A was the target endocrine disruptor.

Integrated selection of PHA-storing biomass and nitrogen removal via nitrite from sludge reject water: a mathematical model.

One of the most recent innovations to promote a circular economy during wastewater treatment is the production of biopolymers. It has recently been demonstrated that it is possible to integrate the production of biopolymers in the form of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with nitrogen removal via nitrite during the treatment of sludge reject water. In the present study, simulation of a new process for bioresource recovery was conducted by an appropriate modification of the Activated Sludge Model 3.

Inhibition of free nitrous acid and free ammonia on polyphosphate accumulating organisms: Evidence of insufficient phosphorus removal through nitritation-denitritation.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Free Nitrous Acid (FNA) and Free Ammonia (FA) on enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) and in particular on the aerobic phosphorus uptake rate (PUR). To this end, a PAO-enriched biomass was developed at a lab-scale reactor in order to fuel a series of ex-situ batch experiments to test the effect of various nitrite or ammonium concentrations on the phosphorus uptake rate at different pH values. FNA was found to be a strong inhibitor of EBPR, in agreement with other studies with PUR being inhibited by 50 % under 1.

Fate of Emerging Contaminants in High-Rate Activated Sludge Systems.

High-rate activated sludge (HRAS) systems are designed to shift the energy-intensive processes to energy-saving and sustainable technologies for wastewater treatment. The high food-to-microorganism (F/M) ratios and low solid retention times (SRTs) and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) applied in HRAS systems result in the maximization of organic matter diversion to the sludge which can produce large amounts of biogas during anaerobic digestion, thus moving toward energy-neutral (or positive) treatment processes. However, in addition to the energy optimization, the removal of emerging contaminants (ECs) is the new challenge in wastewater treatment.

Analytical and mathematical assessment of emerging pollutants fate in a river system.

The fate of several emerging pollutants in a Greek river system was assessed through analytical measurements and mathematical modelling. Target compounds selected in this study consist of five endocrine disrupting chemicals and four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Two sampling campaigns were implemented to assess target compounds concentrations along the river system during dry period.

Assessment of the environmental fate of endocrine disrupting chemicals in rivers.

Laboratory tests were conducted with five endocrine disruptors (bishenol A, triclosan. nonylphenol, nonylphenol monoethoxylate and nonylphenol diethoxylate) under different redox conditions (aerobic, anoxic, anaerobic and sulfate-reducing conditions) to assess abiotic and biotic degradation in a river water/sediment system. The river water sample was collected from Spercheios River while the sediment was collected from the banks of a tributary of the river at the point where the discharge point of a wastewater treatment plant is located.

A review on nitrous oxide (NO) emissions during biological nutrient removal from municipal wastewater and sludge reject water.

Nitrous oxide (NO) is an important pollutant which is emitted during the biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes of wastewater treatment. Since it has a greenhouse effect which is 265 times higher than carbon dioxide, even relatively small amounts can result in a significant carbon footprint. Biological nitrogen (N) removal conventionally occurs with nitrification/denitrification, yet also through advanced processes such as nitritation/denitritation and completely autotrophic N-removal.

Chlorination of benzothiazoles and benzotriazoles and transformation products identification by LC-HR-MS/MS.

The fate of four benzotriazoles [1-H-benzotriazole (1-H-BTRi), tolyltriazole (TTRi), xylyltriazole (XTRi) and 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole (1-OH-BTRi)] and three benzothiazoles [benzothiazole (BTH), 2-hydroxy-benzothiazole (2-OH-BTH) and 2-amino-benzothiazole (2-amino-BTH)], during chlorination batch experiments was investigated. In the first step, their degradation under different experimental conditions (applied molar ratio of NaOCl and the target contaminant (m.r.

Environmental fate of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in river water/sediment systems.

Laboratory tests were conducted with four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac and ketoprofen) under different redox conditions (aerobic, anoxic, anaerobic and sulfate-reducing conditions) in order to assess abiotic and biotic degradation in a river water/sediment system. The river water was sampled from Sperchios River and the sediment was collected from the banks of a rural stream where the discharge point of a wastewater treatment plant is located. To quantitatively describe degradation kinetics of the selected compounds, pseudo first-order kinetics were adopted.

Biological groundwater treatment for chromium removal at low hexavalent chromium concentrations.

The objective of this work is to develop and evaluate biological groundwater treatment systems that will achieve hexavalent chromium reduction and total chromium removal from groundwater at hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) groundwater concentrations in the 0-200 μg/L range. Three lab-scale units operated, as sequencing batch reactors (SBR) under aerobic, anaerobic and anaerobic-aerobic conditions. All systems received groundwater with a Cr(VI) content of 200 μg/L.

Degradation of emerging contaminants from water under natural sunlight: The effect of season, pH, humic acids and nitrate and identification of photodegradation by-products.

Both photodegradation and hydrolysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were investigated in order to evaluate their photochemical fate in aquatic environment and to assess the effect of season and specific characteristics of water (pH, humic acids and nitrate concentration) on the removal of target EDCs and NSAIDs through photodegradation. An additional objective was the identification of the photodegradation by-products of specific NSAIDs and their dependence on irradiation time. Selected compounds' transformation was investigated under natural sunlight radiation while control experiments were conducted in the dark.

Removal of endocrine disruptors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs through wastewater chlorination: the effect of pH, total suspended solids and humic acids and identification of degradation by-products.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are two groups of emerging pollutants the significance of which rests on their persistent detection in the aquatic environment and their possible adverse effects. Wastewater treatment plants are one of the major ways for transporting such chemicals in the aquatic environment. Chlorination is usually the last stage of treatment before wastewater being disposed to the aquatic environment.

The role of activated carbon and disinfection on the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from wastewater.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are two important groups of emerging pollutants due to their toxicological and chemical characteristics and their persistent detection in the aquatic environment. Wastewater treatment plants are a significant pathway for their transfer to the water courses. It is well evidenced that these chemicals are only partially removed through biological treatment of wastewater and therefore being detected in secondary effluents.

A hypothesis on Microthrix parvicella proliferation in biological nutrient removal activated sludge systems with selector tanks.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of Microthrix parvicella for long-chain fatty acids uptake under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic conditions as well as its ability to utilize volatile fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids under anoxic and aerobic conditions. According to the results, a hypothesis on the competition between floc-forming microorganisms and M. parvicella for long-chain fatty acids uptake under aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic conditions was formulated.

Investigation of long-term operation and biomass activity in a membrane bioreactor system.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the long-term performance of a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) that operated continuously for 2.5 years and to assess membrane fouling and biomass activity under various operating conditions. Furthermore, a method for the characterisation of influent wastewater was developed based on its separation into various fractions.

Comparison of bioluminescence and nitrification inhibition methods for assessing toxicity to municipal activated sludge.

The aim of this study was to compare two alternative toxicity assessment methods to determine wastewater toxicity and predict treatment plant process upsets. The toxicity of two synthetic organic compounds (triclosan and 4-n-nonylphenol), which are commonly detected in municipal wastewater, and municipal and industrial wastewaters with different heavy metals content were evaluated by the nitrification inhibition assay and bioluminescence toxicity test. Comparison between both assays confirmed that Vibrio fischeri is generally more sensitive than autotrophic bacteria, and, if not calibrated, the bioluminescence method tends to overestimate toxic effects on activated sludge biomass.