A comprehensive floc model for simulating simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal.

A comprehensive floc model for simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) was designed, incorporating polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs), intrinsic half-saturation coefficients, and explicit external mass transfer terms. The calibrated model was able to effectively describe experimental data over a range of operating conditions. The estimated intrinsic half-saturation coefficients of oxygen values for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, ordinary heterotrophic organisms (OHOs), PAOs, and GAOs were set at 0.08, 0.18, 0.03, 0.07, and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. Simulation suggested that low dissolved oxygen (DO) environments favor K-strategist nitrifying bacteria and PAOs. In SNDPR, virtually all influent and fermentation-generated volatile fatty acids were assimilated as polyhydroxyalkanoates by PAOs in the anaerobic phase. In the aerobic phase, PAOs absorbed 997 % and 171 % of the benchmark influent total phosphorus mass loading through aerobic growth and denitrification via nitrite. These high percentages were because they were calculated relative to the influent total phosphorus, rather than total phosphorus at the end of the anaerobic period. When considering simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, about 23.1 % of influent total Kjeldahl nitrogen was eliminated through denitrification by PAOs and OHOs via nitrite, which reduced the need for both oxygen and carbon in nitrogen removal. Moreover, the microbial and DO profiles within the floc indicated a distinct stratification, with decreasing DO and OHOs, and increasing PAOs towards the inner layer. This study demonstrates a successful floc model that can be used to investigate and design SNDPR for scientific and practical purposes.

Modelling of aerobic granular sludge reactors: the importance of hydrodynamic regimes, selective sludge removal and gradients.

Hydraulic selection is a key feature of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems but existing aerobic granular sludge (AGS) models neglect those mechanisms: gradients over reactor height (Hreactor), selective removal of slow settling sludge, etc. This study aimed at evaluating to what extent integration of those additional processes into AGS models is needed, i.e., at demonstrating that model predictions (biomass inventory, microbial activities and effluent quality) are affected by such additional model complexity. We therefore developed a new AGS model that includes key features of full-scale AGS systems: fill-draw operation, selective sludge removal, distinct settling models for flocs/granules. We then compared predictions of our model to those of a fully mixed AGS model. Our results demonstrate that hydraulic selection can be predicted with an assembly of four continuous stirred tank reactors in series together with a correction code for plug-flow. Concentration gradients over the reactor height during settling/plug-flow feeding strongly impact the predictions of aerobic granular sludge models in terms of microbial selection, microbial activities and ultimately effluent quality. Hydraulic selection is a key to predict selection of storing microorganisms (phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAO) and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAO)) and in turn effluent quality in terms of total phosphorus, and for predicting effluent solid concentration and dynamic during plug-flow feeding.

Survey of full-scale sidestream enhanced biological phosphorus removal (S2EBPR) systems and comparison with conventional EBPRs in North America: Process stability, kinetics, and microbial populations.

Sidestream EBPR (S2EBPR) is an emerging alternative process to address common challenges in EBPR related to weak wastewater influent and may improve EBPR process stability. A systematic evaluation and comparison of the process performance and microbial community structure was conducted between conventional and S2EBPR facilities in North America. The statistical analysis suggested higher performance stability in S2EBPR than conventional EBPR, although possible bias associated with other plant-specific factors might have affected the comparison. Variations in stoichiometric values related to EBPR activity and discrepancies between the observed values and current model predictions suggested a varying degree of metabolic versatility of PAOs in S2EBPR systems that warrant further investigation. Microbial community analysis using various techniques suggested comparable known candidate PAO relative abundances in S2EBPR and conventional EBPR systems, whereas the relative abundance of known candidate GAOs seemed to be consistently lower in S2EBPR facilities than conventional EBPR facilities. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed differences in the community phylogenetic fingerprints between S2EBPR and conventional facilities and indicated statistically higher microbial diversity index values in S2EBPR facilities than those in conventional EBPRs. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Sidestream EBPR (S2EBPR) can be implemented with varying and flexible configurations, and they offer advantages over conventional configurations for addressing the common challenges in EBPR related to weak wastewater influent and may improve EBPR process stability. Survey of S2EBPR plants in North America suggested statistically more stable phosphorus removal performance in S2EBPR plants than conventional EBPRs, although possible bias might affect the comparison due to other plant-specific factors. The EBPR kinetics and stoichiometry of the S2EBPR facilities seemed to vary and are associated with metabolic versatility of PAOs in S2EBPR systems that warrant further investigation. The abundance of known candidate PAOs in S2EBPR plants was similar to those in conventional EBPRs, and the abundance of known candidate GAOs was generally lower in S2EBPR than conventional EBPR facilities. Further finer-resolution analysis of PAOs and GAOs, as well as identification of other unknown PAOs and GAOs, is needed. Microbial diversity is higher in S2EBPR facilities compared with conventional ones, implying that S2EBPR microbial communities could show better resilience to perturbations due to potential functional redundancy.

Incorporating sulfur reactions and interactions with iron and phosphorus into a general plant-wide model.

Sulfur causes many adverse effects in wastewater treatment and sewer collection systems, such as corrosion, odours, increased oxygen demand, and precipitate formation. Several of these are often controlled by chemical addition, which will impact the subsequent wastewater treatment processes. Furthermore, the iron reactions, resulting from coagulant addition for chemical P removal, interact with the sulfur cycle, particularly in the digester with precipitate formation and phosphorus release. Despite its importance, there is no integrated sulfur and iron model for whole plant process optimization/design that could be readily used in practice. After a detailed literature review of chemical and biokinetic sulfur and iron reactions, a plant-wide model is upgraded with relevant reactions to predict the sulfur cycle and iron cycle in sewer collection systems, wastewater and sludge treatment. The developed model is applied on different case studies.

Recent advances in bio-P modelling - a new approach verified by full-scale observations.

This paper summarizes recent developments in biological phosphorus removal modelling, with special attention to side-stream enhanced biological phosphorus removal (S2EBPR) systems on which previous models proved to be ineffective without case-by-case parameter adjustments. Through the research and experience of experts and practitioners, a new bio-kinetic model was developed including an additional group of biomass (glycogen accumulating organisms - GAOs) and new processes (such as aerobic and anoxic maintenance for PAO and GAO; enhanced denitrification processes; fermentation by PAOs which - along with PAO selection - is driven by oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)). This model successfully described various conditions in laboratory measurements and full plant data. The calibration data set is provided by Clean Water Services from Rock Creek Facility (Hillsboro, OR) including two parallel trains: conventional A2O and Westbank configurations, allowing the model to be verified on conventional and side-stream EBPR systems as well.

Uncertainty and variability in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) stoichiometry: consequences for process modelling and optimization.

The overall potential for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in the activated sludge process is constrained by the availability of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The efficiency with which polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) use these VFAs for P-removal, however, is determined by the stoichiometric ratios governing their anaerobic and aerobic metabolism. While changes in anaerobic stoichiometry due to environmental conditions do affect EBPR performance to a certain degree, model-based analyses indicate that variability in aerobic stoichiometry has the greatest impact. Long-term deterioration in EBPR performance in an experimental SBR system undergoing P-limitation can be predicted as the consequence of competition between PAOs and GAOs. However, the observed rapid decrease in P-release after the change in feed composition is not consistent with a gradual shift in population.