Novel modeling concept for evaluating the effects of cadmium and copper on heterotrophic growth and lysis rates in activated sludge process.

A new modeling concept to evaluate the effects of cadmium and copper on heterotrophic growth rate constant (mu(H)) and lysis rate constant (b(H)) in activated sludge was introduced. The oxygen uptake rate (OUR) was employed to measure the constants. The results indicated that the mu(H) value decreased from 4.52 to 3.26 d(-1) or by 28% when 0.7 mg L(-1) of cadmium was added. Contrarily the b(H) value increased from 0.31 to 0.35 d(-1) or by 11%. When adding 0.7 mg L(-1) of copper, the mu(H) value decreased to 2.80 d(-1) or by 38%. The b(H) value increased to 0.42 d(-1) or by 35%. After regression, the inhibitory effect was in a good agreement with non-competitive inhibition kinetic. The inhibition coefficient values for cadmium and copper were 1.82 and 1.21 mg L(-1), respectively. The relation between the b(H) values and heavy metal concentrations agreed with exponential type well. The heavy metal would enhance b(H) value. Using these data, a new kinetic model was established and used to simulate the degree of inhibition. It was evident that not only the inhibitory effect on mu(H) but also that the enhancement effect on b(H) should be considered when heavy metal presented.

Microbial kinetic analysis of three different types of EBNR process.

The disadvantages of developed biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes (additional energy for liquid circulation and addition of external carbon substrate for denitrification in anoxic zones) were improved by reconfiguring the process into (1) an anaerobic zone followed by multiple stages of aerobic-anoxic zones (TNCU3 process) or (2) anaerobic, oxic, anoxic, oxic zones in sequence (TNCU2 process). These two pilot plants were operated at a recycling sludge ratio of 0.5 without internal recycle of nitrified supernatant. The sludge retention time was maintained at 10 d. The main objective of this study is to analyze the kinetics of different microorganisms in these two processes and A2O process by using the Activated Sludge Model No. 2d. The effective removal efficiency of carbon, total phosphorus and total nitrogen at 87-98%, 92-100% and 63-80%, respectively, were achieved in the testing runs. According to model simulations, the microbial kinetics in the TNCU3 and TNCU2 processes would be affected by different operations. When the step feeding strategy was adopted, the HRT was longer due to the less influent flowrate in the front stages and the microbes would grow in quantities by about 6% in the aerobic reactors. In the followed anoxic reactors, the microbes would decrease in quantities by about 12% due to the dilution effect. The dilution effects in TNCU3 and TNCU2 processes did not take place in A2O process because the recycling mixed liquid from the aerobic reactor to the anoxic reactor still contained particulate components. The XH, XPAO, and XAUT concentrations in the effluent of the last tank were lower when the step-feeding mode was adopted. The TNCU3 and TNCU2 processes could be operated efficiently without nitrified liquid circulation and addition of external carbon substrate for denitrification.

An improved method for determination of heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil.

Bioavailability of heavy metal in contaminated soil is investigated. A general diffusion model for determining the heavy metal bioavailability in soil has been developed The bioavailability predictions based on the present model were more accurate than those based on a previous model. Experimental results obtained using cadmium-, copper-, zinc- and lead-contaminated soils were employed for model verification. The effects of soil pH, initial heavy metal concentration, temperature and soil type on the effective diffusion coefficient or bioavailability index were also examined experimentally. The theoretical model and experimental procedure proposed in the present study provide a convenient means for the determination of heavy metal or inorganic ion bioavailability in contaminated soil.

Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by chelating resin in a multistage adsorption process.

Copper and zinc removal from aqueous solution by chelating resin was investigated theoretically and experimentally in the present study. A multistage process was proposed as an alternative for enhancement of the heavy removal of the single-stage process. Heavy metal mass balance equations with empirical Freundlich adsorption isotherm were developed to represent the multistage process and the theoretical model permits determination of the inter-stage heavy metal concentrations and the total amount of chelating resin required for achieving a desired level of heavy metal removal. Optimization of the linearized theoretical model shows that equal division of the total amount of chelating resin among all stages of the multistage process yields the best results in terms of saving of chelating resin for a given heavy metal removal or enhanced heavy metal removal for a given total amount of chelating resin. Experimental tests were also conducted to establish the equilibrium adsorption of heavy metal by the chelating resin and to empirically verify the advantages of the multistage adsorption process.