Simulation and optimization of ammonia removal at low temperature for a double channel oxidation ditch based on fully coupled activated sludge model (FCASM): a full-scale study.

An optimal operating condition for ammonia removal at low temperature, based on fully coupled activated sludge model (FCASM), was determined in a full-scale oxidation ditch process wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The FCASM-based mechanisms model was calibrated and validated with the data measured on site. Several important kinetic parameters of the modified model were tested through respirometry experiment. Validated model was used to evaluate the relationship between ammonia removal and operating parameters, such as temperature (T), dissolved oxygen (DO), solid retention time (SRT) and hydraulic retention time of oxidation ditch (HRT). The simulated results showed that low temperature have a negative effect on the ammonia removal. Through orthogonal simulation tests of the last three factors and combination with the analysis of variance, the optimal operating mode acquired of DO, SRT, HRT for the WWTP at low temperature were 3.5 mg L(-1), 15 d and 14 h, respectively.

The long-term effect of nitrite on the granule-based enhanced biological phosphorus removal system and the reversibility.

This study investigated the long-term effect of nitrite on the granule-based enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system and the reversibility from macro- to micro-scale. Nitrite was found to seriously deteriorate the EBPR performance and result in severe sludge bulking. The inhibited polysaccharides excretion could lead to breaking the stability and integrity of the granules. Therefore, the reduced particle size and granule disintegration were observed. In this study, granules with lower ratio of proteins to polysaccharides (1.76) had better structure and function than the higher (3.84). Experimental results demonstrated that the microbial community structure was largely changed due to the presence of nitrite. In comparison, glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) had stronger resistibility and higher recovery rate than poly-phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs). Interestingly, the community composition was unable to recover (Dice coefficients, 33.0%), although good EBPR performance was achieved only by propagating other types of PAOs.