Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydraulic Retention Time Influence on Improving Flocculation in the Activated Sludge Processes Through Polyelectrolytes

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hydraulic retention time (HRT) influence improving sludge flocculation with adding the polyelectrolytes (non-ionic, anionic, and cationic) was studied on an activated sludge (AS) system fed with synthetic domestic wastewater (SDW), dairy industry wastewater (DIW), and caramel industry wastewater (CIW). The sludge volumetric index, food/microorganism ratio (F/M), and mixed liquor volatile suspended solids at different HRTs (6, 8 and 10 h) were monitored on an experimental model. Results showed that both SDW and IW had the best sludge flocculation conditions at 8 h and 100 mL of non-ionic polyelectrolyte (0.2 mg L−1). In addition, this phenomenon reached the organic matter removal efficiencies of 95.9, 95.7, and 94.2% for SDW, DIW, and CIW, respectively. Therefore, optimum HRT increased the organic matter removal efficiencies by 10%, sludge concentration by 37% (22–55%), and F/M ratio by 70%. Moreover, the polyelectrolytes used in AS improved the sludge flocculation by 2.9 times.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amanatidou, E., Samiotis, G., Trikilidou, E., Pekridis, G., & Taousabidis, N. (2015). Evaluating sedimentation problems in activated sludge treatment plants operating at complete sludge retention time. Water Research, 69, 20–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA-AWWA-WPCF. (2005). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, ed21st edition. Washington DC: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Pollution Control Federation.

  • Amuda, O. S., & Amoo, I. A. (2007). Coagulation/flocculation process and sludge conditioning in beverage industrial wastewater treatment. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 141, 778–783.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arango, L., & López, J. D. (2011) Estudio a escala de laboratorio de los efectos de la forma de alimentación y de la cantidad de inóculo sobre el hinchamiento de los lodos de reactores aerobios mezcla completa en etapa de arranque (Laboratory-scale study of the feeding strategy influence on bulking in the startup scenario of aerobic reactors mixed sludge complete). Undergraduate thesis. Universidad de Medellín, Medellín, Colombia. 119 pp.

  • Bolto, B., & Gregory, J. (2007). Organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment. Water Research, 41, 2301–2324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, C. P., Lee, D. J., Chang, B.-V., You, C. H., Liao, C. S., & Tay, J. H. (2003). Anaerobic digestion of polyelectrolyte flocculated waste activated sludge. Chemosphere, 53, 757–764.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Gregorio, C., Caravelli, A. H., & Zaritzky, N. E. (2010). Performance and biological indicators of a laboratory-scale activated sludge reactor with phosphate simultaneous precipitation as affected by ferric chloride addition. Chemical Engineering Journal, 165, 607–616.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, N. F. (2010). Water technology: an introduction for environmental scientists and engineers. Chapter 17: activated sludge 3rd Edn. 513–563, Oxford, Taylor & Francis.

  • Hreiz, R., Latifi, M. A., & Roche, N. (2015). Optimal design and operation of activated sludge processes: state-of-the-art. Chemical Engineering Journal, 281, 900–920.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C., & Liu, J. (2000). Enhanced sludge dewatering by dual polyelectrolytes conditioning. Water Research, 34, 4430–4436.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X.Y., Yang, S.F. (2007). Influence of loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the flocculation, sedimentation and dewaterability of activated sludge. Water Research, 41(5), 1022-1030.

  • Liao, B.-Q., Allen, D. G., Leppard, G. G., Droppo, L. G., & Liss, S. N. (2000). Interparticle interactions affecting the stability of sludge flocs. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 249, 372–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., & Fang, H. H. (2003). Influences of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on flocculation, settling, and dewatering of activated sludge. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 33(3), 237–273.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., & Joo-Hwa, T. (2001). Strategy for minimization of excess sludge production from the activated sludge process. Biotechnology Advances, 19, 97–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massé, A., Spérandio, M., & Cabassud, C. (2006). Comparison of sludge characteristics and performance of a submerged membrane bioreactor and an activated sludge process at high solids retention time. Water Research, 40, 2405–2415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mateo-Sagasta, J., Raschid-Sally, L., & Thebo, A. (2015). Global wastewater, sludge production, treatment and reuse. Chapter: wastewater. Wastewater: economic asset in an unbanning world. 15–38, Dordrecht: Springer.

  • Mesquita, D. P., Amaral, A. L., & Ferreira, E. C. (2013). Activated sludge characterization through microscopy: a review on quantitative image analysis and chemometric techniques. Analytica Chimica Acta, 802, 14–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, T. P., Hilal, N., Hankins, N. P., & Novak, J. T. (2008). Determination of the effect of cations and cationic polyelectrolytes on the characteristics and final properties of synthetic and activated sludge. Desalination, 222, 307–317.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, T. P., Hankins, N. P., & Hilal, N. (2007). A comparative study of the flocculation behaviour and final properties of synthetic and activated sludge in wastewater treatment. Desalination, 204, 277–295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piirtola, L., Uusitalo, R., & Vesilind, A. (2000). Effect of mineral materials and cations on activated and alum sludge settling. Water Research, 34, 191–195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van De Staey, G., Gins, G., & Smets, I. (2016). Bioflocculation and activated sludge separation: a PLS case study. IFAC-Papers OnLine, 49, 1151–1156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villamar, C. A., Jarpa, M., Decap, J., & Vidal, G. (2009). Aerobic moving bed bioreactor performance: a comparative study of removal efficiencies of kraft mill effluents from Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus. Water Science and Technology, 59, 507–514.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by collaboration in the experimental research. The authors thank Mr. Jorge Escobar Ortiz for designing the reactors used in this study and to Ms. Jennifer Guerrero for the collaboration in the laboratory work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación y Control Ambiental, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, 17-01-2759, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, 170413, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador

    Cristina E. Almeida-Naranjo, Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero, Marcelo I. Muñoz-Rodríguez & Cristina A. Villamar-Ayala

Authors
  1. Cristina E. Almeida-Naranjo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcelo I. Muñoz-Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cristina A. Villamar-Ayala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Almeida-Naranjo, C.E., Espinoza-Montero, P.J., Muñoz-Rodríguez, M.I. et al. Hydraulic Retention Time Influence on Improving Flocculation in the Activated Sludge Processes Through Polyelectrolytes. Water Air Soil Pollut 228, 253 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3427-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3427-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation