Optimization of biochemical sulfide potential (BSP) assay for anaerobic biodegradability assessment.

The anaerobic biodegradability assessment (biodegradation extent and kinetics) of organic wastes is critical for optimum design and evaluating treatment efficiencies for anaerobic treatment technologies. The biochemical sulfide potential (BSP) assay has previously demonstrated the advantages of its time efficiency and measurement accuracy for biologically assessing substrate degradability, while its application is limited by undefined operational parameters. In this study, the BSP assay was further optimized through a systematic investigation of a critical parameter, inoculum-to-substrate ratio (ISR), and the applicable kinetic model to unravel the potential use of BSP assays for anaerobic waste treatment.

Primary sedimentation modelling with characterized setting velocity groups.

Within a plantwide water and resource recovery facility context, an important requirement for a primary sedimentation unit model is the correct fractionation of the settleable portion (primary sludge - PS) of the raw wastewater total suspended solids (TSS) according to the (i) unbiodegradable particulate organic (UPO), (ii) biodegradable particulate organic (BPO), and (iii) inorganic settleable solid (ISS) components. This paper focuses on improving a current TSS- based primary settling tank (PST) model to account for correct proportions of these three components, with characterized settling velocity groups. The steps taken towards development of the primary sedimentation unit model involved the development of a discrete particle settling model in Microsoft Excel and the utilisation of well characterised municipal wastewater data from previous studies in the discrete particle settling model, to reproduce PS and settled wastewater outputs in settling fractions of UPO, BPO and ISS, via steady state and dynamic calculations and under strict material mass balances.

Identifying the mechanisms of sludge reduction in the sulfidogenic oxic-settling anaerobic (SOSA) process: Side-stream sulfidogenesis-intensified sludge decay and mainstream extended aeration.

An energy-/cost-efficient and environment-friendly in-situ sludge reduction process, called the sulfidogenic oxic-settling anaerobic (SOSA) was developed recently. However, the underpinning mechanism of sludge reduction by the SOSA process remains elusive. This paper investigated the possible mechanisms of sludge reduction through biomass cultivation in three lab-scale experimental systems: one anoxic-oxic CAS process with a long sludge retention time (SRT) and extended aeration (EAO) process, and two EAO-based in-situ sludge reduction processes, i.

Integrated food waste management with wastewater treatment in Hong Kong: Transformation, energy balance and economic analysis.

Diversion of food waste (FW) away from the solid waste stream into the wastewater stream is proved viable through the use of food waste disposers (FWDs). However, this may cause unwanted influences on the wastewater treatment system. In this context, this study has comprehensively evaluated integrated food waste and wastewater management on a city scale for the first time.

Potential for co-disposal and treatment of food waste with sewage: A plant-wide steady-state model evaluation.

The water, food and energy nexus is a vital subject to achieve sustainable development goals worldwide. Wastewater (WW) and food waste (FW) from municipal sources are the primary contributors of organic waste from cities. Along with the loss of these valuable natural resources, their treatment systems also consume a considerable amount of abiotic energy and resource input and make a perceptible contribution to global warming.