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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor

Published on: October 15, 2015

Effect of heavy metals on nitrification performance in different activated sludge processes.

Sheng-Jie You¹, Yung-Pin Tsai, Ru-Yi Huang

¹Department of Bioenvironmental Engineering and R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chun Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taiwan. sjyou@cycu.edu.tw

Journal of Hazardous Materials

|December 17, 2008

Summary

Nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) significantly inhibit activated sludge nitrification, while lead (Pb) shows minimal impact. Heavy metal toxicity and adsorption vary, with Ni being most toxic and Pb/Cd most adsorbed by sludge.

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Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae

Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae

Published on: July 10, 2015

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Environmental Microbiology
Water Treatment Engineering

Background:

Nitrification is a crucial process in wastewater treatment, susceptible to inhibition by heavy metals.
Understanding heavy metal toxicity mechanisms is vital for maintaining activated sludge efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the toxic effects of lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) on the specific ammonia utilization rate (SAUR) of activated sludge.
To determine the heavy metal adsorption capacities of activated sludge from sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A(2)O) systems.

Main Methods:

Batch experiments were conducted using activated sludge from SBR and A(2)O processes.
Seven heavy metal combinations and concentrations (0-40 ppm) were tested to measure SAUR inhibition.
Heavy metal adsorption and bacterial community analysis (phylogenetic trees) were performed.

Main Results:

SAUR inhibition rates followed the order Ni > Cd > Pb; 40 ppm Pb caused no significant inhibition.
No synergistic toxicity effects were observed; inhibition depended on the most toxic metal present.
First-order kinetics modeled SAUR inhibition, yielding a derived formula.
Heavy metal adsorption followed Pb = Cd > Ni, increasing with metal concentration and decreasing with MLVSS.
SBR sludge exhibited higher adsorption capacity than A(2)O sludge.
Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria in both sludge types.

Conclusions:

Nickel and cadmium pose a greater nitrification risk than lead to activated sludge.
Activated sludge can adsorb heavy metals, with capacity influenced by metal type, concentration, and MLVSS.
SBR sludge demonstrates superior heavy metal adsorption compared to A(2)O sludge.
Proteobacteria play a significant role in the microbial communities of both SBR and A(2)O activated sludge systems.