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Enhancing denitrification with waste sludge carbon source: the substrate metabolism process and mechanisms
Liang Guo1,2, Yiding Guo3, Mei Sun3
1College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China. geletu@ouc.edu.cn.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|February 28, 2018
Summary
Waste sludge can be used as an internal carbon source for enhanced nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment. Optimal soluble chemical oxygen demand to nitrate-nitrogen ratios were identified, with volatile fatty acids proving most effective for denitrification.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Engineering
Background:
- Wastewater treatment faces challenges with nitrogen removal and sludge management.
- Utilizing waste sludge as an internal carbon source offers economic benefits and reduces sludge production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of waste sludge thermal hydrolysate and fermentation liquid as carbon sources for enhanced denitrification.
- To determine optimal soluble chemical oxygen demand to nitrate-nitrogen (SCOD/N) ratios for nitrogen removal.
- To investigate the fate of sludge-derived organic matter during the denitrification process.
Main Methods:
- Investigated denitrification performance using waste sludge thermal hydrolysate and fermentation liquid at varying SCOD/N ratios.
- Analyzed changes in SCOD, proteins, carbohydrates, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs).
- Employed three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy with fluorescence regional integration (FRI) analysis.
Main Results:
- Optimal SCOD/N ratios were 8 for thermal hydrolysate and 7 for fermentation liquid, achieving 92.3% and 98.9% nitrate-nitrogen removal, respectively.
- Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were utilized more efficiently than proteins and carbohydrates.
- Soluble organic-like materials (Region IV) were the most readily consumed organic matter.
Conclusions:
- Waste sludge-derived carbon sources are effective for enhanced nitrogen removal in wastewater.
- Understanding the composition and utilization of organic matter is crucial for optimizing denitrification.
- SCOD utilization directly correlates with nitrate-nitrogen reduction, highlighting the importance of VFAs.
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