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Reactivation of effluent granular sludge from a high-rate Anammox reactor after storage

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Abstract

In this study, effluent sludge from a high-rate Anammox reactor was used to re-start new Anammox reactors for the reactivation of Anammox granular sludge. Different start-up strategies were evaluated in six upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors (R1–R6) for their effect on nitrogen removal performance. Maximal nitrogen removal rates (NRRs) greater than 20 kg N/m3/day were obtained in reactors R3–R5, which were seeded with mixed Anammox sludge previously stored for approximately 6 months and 1 month. A modified Boltzmann model describing the evolution of the NRR fit the experimental data well. An amount of sludge added to the UASB reactor or decreasing the loading rate proved effective in relieving the substrate inhibition and increasing the NRR. The modified Stover–Kincannon model fit the nitrogen removal data in the Anammox reactors well, and the simulation results showed that the Anammox process has great nitrogen removal potential. The observed inhibition in the Anammox reactors may have been caused by high levels of free ammonia. The sludge used to seed the reactors did not settle well; sludge flotation was observed even after the reactors were operated for a long time at a floating upward velocity (Fs) of greater than 100 m/h. The settling sludge, however, exhibited good settling properties. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the Anammox granules consisted mainly of spherical and elliptical bacteria with abundant filaments on their surface. Hollows in the granules were also present, which may have contributed to sludge floatation.

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Abbreviations

ABF:

Anaerobic biological filter

Anammox:

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation

ANMR:

Anammox non-woven membrane reactor

CSTR:

Continuously stirred tank reactor

EPS:

Exocellular polymeric substance

FA:

Free ammonia

Fs :

Floating upward velocity

HRT:

Hydraulic retention time

IAN:

Influent ammonium nitrogen

INN:

Influent nitrite nitrogen

NLR:

Nitrogen loading rate

NRR:

Nitrogen removal rate

PR:

Parent reactor

R 2 :

Correlation coefficient

SAA:

Specific Anammox activity

SBR:

Sequencing batch reactor

SD:

Standard deviation

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SS:

Suspended solids

SVI30 :

30-min sludge volume index

SVI5 :

5-min sludge volume index

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

UAGSB:

Upflow Anammox granular sludge bed

UASB:

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket

UBF:

Upflow biofilter

Vs :

Settling velocity

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50808060 & No. 51078121), the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. Y5090072) and the Science and Technology Development Program of Hangzhou (No. 20091133B06). The authors express gratitude to Dr. Ting–Ting Chen from the Department of Environmental Engineering at Zhejiang University for her help in granule diameter analysis.

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  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, People’s Republic of China

    Guang Feng Yang & Ren Cun Jin

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  1. Guang Feng Yang
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Correspondence to Ren Cun Jin.

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Yang, G.F., Jin, R.C. Reactivation of effluent granular sludge from a high-rate Anammox reactor after storage. Biodegradation 24, 13–32 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-012-9554-9

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