Development of a sixth-generation down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor using rigid sponge media for post-treatment of UASB treating municipal sewage

Low-cost, reliable, and highly efficient removal of COD and total nitrogen from sewage using a sponge-filled trickling filter

Development of low-cost and reliable reactors demanding minimal supervision is a need-of-the-hour for sewage treatment in rural areas. This study explores the performance of a multi-stage sponge-filled trickling filter (SPTF) for sewage treatment, employing polyethylene (PE) and polyurethane (PU) media. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen transformation were evaluated at hydraulic loading rates (HLRs) ranging from 2 to 6 m/d using synthetic sewage as influent. At influent COD of ∼350 mg/L, PU-SPTF and PE-SPTF achieved a COD removal of 97% across all HLRs with most of the removal occurring in the first segments. Operation of PE-SPTF at an HLR of 6 m/d caused substantial wash-out of biomass, while PU-SPTF retained biomass and achieved effluent COD < 10 mg/L even at HLR of 8-10 m/d. The maximum Total Nitrogen removal by PE-SPTF and PU-SPTF reactors was 93.56 ± 1.36 and 92.24 ± 0.66%, respectively, at an HLR of 6 m/d. Simultaneous removal of ammonia and nitrate was observed at all the HLRs in the first segment of both SPTFs indicating ANAMMOX activity. COD removal data, media depth, and HLRs were fitted (R2 > 0.99) to a first-order kinetic relationship. For a comparable COD removal, CO2 emission by PU-SPTF was 3.5% of that of an activated sludge system.

Performance evaluation and microbial community structure of a modified trickling filter and conventional activated sludge process in treating urban sewage

This study compares the performance and microbial composition of a conventional activated sludge process (ASP) with a modified trickling filter (MTF) for urban sewage treatment. MTF (2 h HRT with effluent recycling) and ASP (8 h HRT) showed >60 % removal efficiency for COD, NH₃-N and PO₄^3--P. MTF outperformed ASP in denitrification and 5 mg/L of NO₃^--N was detected in the effluent of MTF. The widespread distribution of nitrogen removal functional genes (amoA, nirK, nirS, napA, narG and nosZ) in MTF indicates simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) as a key process controlling nitrogen removal. In addition, Miseq sequencing was used to examine the microbial community composition in MTF and ASP. The sequencing result revealed that Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi and Actinobacteriota were the dominant phyla in both MTF and ASP. Moreover, the co-occurrence of various nitrifiers, denitrifiers, aerobic denitrifiers, and ANAMMOX bacteria in MTF suggested their role in nitrogen removal.

Biogas purification and ammonia load reduction in sewage treatment by two-stage down-flow hanging sponge reactor

In this study, a two-stage down-flow hanging sponge (TSDHS) reactor was used as biotrickling filter for biogas desulfurization by utilizing the anaerobic digester supernatant (ADS) of sewage sludge of an activated sludge process (ASP). The reactor comprises a closed-type first-stage down-flow hanging sponge (1st DHS) and an open-type second-stage down-flow hanging sponge (2nd DHS) reactors. In the 1st DHS, hydrogen sulfide in biogas was dissolved into the ADS, and then it was oxidized into elemental sulfur and sulfate by microbe using dissolved oxygen and nitrite in the ADS. More than 99.9 % of hydrogen sulfide was removed within 400 s of empty bed residence time, and >50 % of removed hydrogen sulfide was oxidized into elemental sulfur and accumulated at the surface of the sponge carrier in the 1st DHS. The 1st DHS effluent was fed into the 2nd DHS for nitrogen removal via nitrification and sulfur-based denitrification with the recirculation of the 2nd DHS effluent under nonaeration condition. In the 2nd DHS, 36.8 % of ammonia and 5.3 % of total inorganic nitrogen were removed. Sulfurimonas and Halothiobacillus were increased and contributed to the sulfur-based denitrification as well as the accumulation of elemental sulfur in the 1st DHS, respectively. In the 2nd DHS, Nitrosococcus, Nitrobacter, and Sulfuritalea were considered as the contributors of nitrogen removal via nitrification and sulfur-based denitrification. Further, this study shows that a TSDHS reactor can achieve not only desulfurization of biogas in the 1st DHS but also a 3.5 %-15 % reduction of the ammonia load in the 2nd DHS by effective utilization of the ADS during sewage treatment, assuming that the ADS is returned to the ASP.

Performance evaluation of a novel upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor with built-in downflow hanging sponge module for the treatment of municipal sewage

The present study investigates the potential of a novel upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor with a built-in polishing facility for the treatment of municipal sewage. A laboratory-scale reactor, which combined an inner-centric hybrid UASB module and an outer concentric downflow hanging sponge (DHS) unit, was designed and fabricated as a part of this research work. The reactor had been continuously operated for 210 days under ambient conditions. With anaerobically digested sewage sludge (seed sludge blended with Locust bean gum polymer) as inoculum, the reactor attained a successful startup in 40 days. Ensuring startup, the reactor was employed under varying organic loading rates (OLR) from 0.87 to 5.09 kg COD/m³/d, with corresponding hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 24-4 h. The novel UASB reactor made its mark with a high COD and TSS removal of 93.2% and 93%, respectively, under the optimum conditions of 6-h HRT. In addition, biogas rich in methane content (68%), with a maximum specific yield of 0.42± 0.02 m³ biogas /kg COD destroyed, was generated. The VSS/TSS ratio observed a steady rise (0.51 to 0.75) with increasing sludge age, bearing witness to the active growth of biomass. Hence, in brief, the novel UASB reactor can be coined as an energy economic system with improved effluent quality.

Cultivation of previously uncultured microorganisms with a continuous-flow down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) bioreactor, using a syntrophic archaeon culture obtained from deep marine sediment as a case study

In microbiology, cultivation is a central approach for uncovering novel physiology, ecology, and evolution of microorganisms, but conventional methods have left many microorganisms found in nature uncultured. To overcome the limitations of traditional methods and culture indigenous microorganisms, we applied a two-stage approach: enrichment/activation of indigenous organisms by using a continuous-flow down-flow hanging sponge bioreactor and subsequent selective batch cultivation. Here, we provide a protocol for this bioreactor-mediated technique using activation of deep marine sediment microorganisms and downstream isolation of a syntrophic co-culture containing an archaeon closely related to the eukaryote ancestor (Candidatus Promethearchaeum syntrophicum strain MK-D1) as an example. Both stages can easily be tailored to target other environments and organisms by modifying the inoculum, feed solution/gases, attachment material and/or cultivation media. We anaerobically incubate polyurethane sponges inoculated with deep-sea methane seep sediment in a reactor at 10 °C and feed anaerobic artificial seawater medium and methane. Once phylogenetically diverse and metabolically active microorganisms are adapted to synthetic conditions in the reactor, we transition to growing community samples in glass tubes with the above medium, simple substrates and selective compounds (e.g., antibiotics). To accommodate for the slow growth anticipated for target organisms, primary cultures can be incubated for ≥6-12 months and analyzed for community composition even when no cell turbidity is observed. One casamino acid- and antibiotic-amended culture prepared in this way led to the enrichment of uncultured archaea. Through successive transfer in vitro combined with molecular growth monitoring, we successfully obtained the target archaeon with its partner methanogen as a pure syntrophic co-culture.

Combined slaughterhouse wastewater treatment via pilot plant chemical coagulation followed by 4th generation downflow hanging sponge (DHS-4G)

The article aimed to investigate performance and evaluation of combining chemical coagulation pretreatment unit with a pilot-scale fourth generation downflow hanging sponge (DHS-4G) for slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) treatment. This combination of compact treatment technique was tested as a novel system for the treatment of SWW. A DHS-4G reactor with a capacity of about 100 liters was installed after a 1 m³ chemical treatment unit and operated under two different hydraulic retention times (HRT) namely 12 h and 8 h. The integrated treatment system gave reasonable organic and nitrogen removal efficiencies and the removal efficiency was 91%, and 87% for COD, 92%, and 88% for BOD and 94%, and 84% for TSS at HRT 12 h, and 8 h respectively. Profile analysis showed that most of solids and organic matter particles were entrapped in the top segments of the reactor, while in the middle part residual and soluble organic matter were biologically degraded and the bottom segment slightly removes small residuals and nitrogen compounds. Also, analysis of retained biomass indicated that sludge retention time (SRT) was 27 days, which indicated low sludge amount produced from the reactor. Accordingly, the use of the studied integrated treatment system is very effective in terms of treatment cost and quality as it achieved required treatment in shorter time and minimum requirements for construction and operation.

Efficiency of high rate treatment of low-strength municipality sewage by a pilot-scale combination system of a sedimentation tank and a down-flow hanging sponge reactor

Down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor that is sponge-based trickling filter was considered to be an alternative aerobic treatment system for low strength sewage treatment under tropical conditions. This study aims to determine the process performance of the DHS reactor combined with a pre-treatment sedimentation tank (SED) system installed at the municipality sewage treatment plant in Khon Kaen, Thailand over, 1,600 days. The DHS reactor was operated with three operational periods: low (0.2 kgBODm³ per day), high (0.5-1.3 kgBODm³ per day), and super rates (1.7-2.2. kgBODm³ per day). The results showed effective reductions in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids by more than 74% and 78%, respectively, during the entire experimental period. Moreover, the final effluent met the Thailand discharge standard with an external short hydraulic retention time of 0.2 h. In addition, the combined system facilitates simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and effectively removed up to 43% of total nitrogen. The self-degradation of the organic compounds occurs owing to the retained sludge in the DHS reactor; this leads to undisputed clogging in sponge media. Therefore, the combined SED-DHS system could be an appropriate sewage treatment system for tropical conditions.

Full-scale application of a down-flow hanging sponge reactor combined with a primary sedimentation basin for domestic sewage treatment

The down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor is advantageous for sewage treatment since it produces an effluent quality that complies with the standards for reuse and there is little excess sludge. A full-scale DHS module was efficiently employed for the treatment of domestic sewage (200 m³ day^-1) flowing from a primary sedimentation basin (PSB), which was used to reduce the suspended solids loading rate and enhance the oxidation of organics by heterotrophs. The combined PSB-DHS was successfully operated at a total hydraulic retention time of 3.4 h (2.4 h for PSB and 1.0 h for DHS) for the relatively long period of 600 days at sewage temperatures of 10 °C to 32 °C. The PSB-DHS consistently produced an effluent quality with minimum values of chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, and suspended solids of 59 ± 15, 12 ± 3.0, and 15 ± 7 mg L^-1, respectively. The proposed system performed exceptionally well at removing organics and particulate matter over a short hydraulic retention time.

Non-submerged attached growth process for domestic wastewater treatment: Influence of media types and internal recirculation ratios

This study is aimed to comprehend the treatment of non-submerged attached growth systems using bio-sponge, bio-cord, and bio-cloth media. Three reactors were set up with internal recirculation ratio of 1 (IR = 1) and similar media surface area. Bio-sponge and bio-cloth reactors showed removal of COD (79 vs. 76%) and NH₄⁺-N (78 vs. 73%). While bio-cord treatment was deteriorated due to time-dependent process. Multiple linear regression revealed that alkalinity governed the formation degree of the anaerobic zone in bio-sponges, partially affecting nitrification. Increasing IR from 1 to 3 caused sloughing of the attached biomass and was positively correlated with effluent nitrite nitrogen concentration, indicating the sensitivity of nitrification to spatial distribution effects. In addition, bio-sponge system obtained superior performance at IR of 2 while bio-cloth one might be also an effective media for wastewater treatment if having good durability.

Start-up of a trickling photobioreactor for the treatment of domestic wastewater

A stand-alone trickling photobioreactor (TPBR) was seeded with activated sludge and microalgae to treat domestic wastewater. The TPBR was started-up at 12-h hydraulic retention time at room temperature with 12:12 h light:dark cycle. The light was provided by blue LED strips. The reactor has a total volume of 30 L and is divided into six segments. Each segment is 30 cm long and has a diameter of 15 cm. Each segment was packed with polyurethane foam sponge cubes (2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm³ ) with 40% occupancy. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (P) of domestic wastewater varied in the range of 164-256 mg/L, 84.4-133.8 mg/L, 34.2-55.6 mg/L, and 24.7-39.3 mg/L, respectively, during this period. The COD, TOC, TN, and P concentrations in the effluent after 45 days of operation were 30.24 ± 3.36 mg/L, 7.69 ± 0.09 mg/L, 16.67 ± 0.39 mg/L, and 17.48 ± 0.5 mg/L, respectively. The chlorophyll-to-biofilm biomass ratio increased during the experimental period. The above results indicate that the algal-bacterial symbiotic relationship is beneficial for carbon and nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Trickling photobioreactor works on natural ventilation and has low power requirements and a small footprint. The porous sponge media helped in immobilizing and subsequent harvesting of biomass. The reactor conditions favored the growth of diatoms (brown algae) over green algae.

Development of a single-stage mainstream anammox process using a sponge-bed trickling filter

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation to nitrogen gas using nitrite as the electron acceptor (anammox process) is considered a cost-effective solution for nitrogen removal after an anaerobic pre-treatment process. In this study, we conducted a laboratory-scale experiment to develop a single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process in a sponge-based trickling filter (STF) reactor, inoculated with anammox sludge, simulating the treatment of anaerobically pretreated concentrated domestic sewage without mechanical oxygen control. The influent ammonia concentration was 100 mg-N·L^-1. The K_La of the STF reactor was higher than those observed for conventional activated sludge processes. The STF reactor performed at 89.8 ± 8.2% and 42.7 ± 16.9% ammonia and TN removal efficiency, respectively, with a nitrogen loading rate of 0.55 ± 0.20 kg-N·m^-3·day^-1 calculated based on sponge volume. Microbial community analysis of the STF-retained sludge indicated that both autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrogen removal occurred in the reactor.

Inorganic carbon limitation during nitrogen conversions in sponge-bed trickling filters for mainstream treatment of anaerobic effluent

Anaerobic sewage treatment is a proven technology in warm climate regions, and sponge-bed trickling filters (SBTFs) are an important post-treatment technology to remove residual organic carbon and nitrogen. Even though SBTFs can achieve a reasonably good effluent quality, further process optimization is hampered by a lack of mechanistic understanding of the factors influencing nitrogen removal, notably when it comes to mainstream anaerobically treated sewage. In this study, the factors that control the performance of SBTFs following anaerobic (i.e., UASB) reactors for sewage treatment were investigated. A demo-scale SBTF fed with anaerobically pre-treated sewage was monitored for 300 days, showing a median nitrification efficiency of 79% and a median total nitrogen removal efficiency of 26%. Heterotrophic denitrification was limited by the low organic carbon content of the anaerobic effluent. It was demonstrated that nitrification was impaired by a lack of inorganic carbon rather than by alkalinity limitation. To properly describe inorganic carbon limitation in models, bicarbonate was added as a state variable and sigmoidal kinetics were applied. The resulting model was able to capture the overall long-term experimental behaviour. There was no nitrite accumulation, which indicated that nitrite oxidizing bacteria were little or less affected by the inorganic carbon limitation. Overall, this study indicated the vital role of influent characteristics and operating conditions concerning nitrogen conversions in SBTFs treating anaerobic effluent, thus facilitating further process optimization.

Valorization of fecal sludge stabilization via vermicomposting in microcosm enriched substrates using organic soils for vermicompost production

High generation of fecal sludge without proper treatment is a major sanitation problem. A key step in curbing this problem is producing value-added resources such as vermicompost from fecal sludge through substrate enrichment. Substrate enrichment is a vermicomposting technique that involves augmenting vermibed substrates with organic rich materials to provide additional nutrients, as well as underlying layers needed for microcosm development to produce desirable vermicompost. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of substrate enrichment with organic soils (black soil, red laterite soil and sandy soil) combined with coconut coir as bulking material, on the fecal sludge vermicomposting process and quality of the end-product. The purpose of the study was to promote the development of highly nutritive vermicompost from fecal sludge using substrate enrichment as a low-cost innovative vermicomposting technique. The enriched substrates were prepared with 160g of coconut coir, 120g of fecal matter (65–70% dry matter) and 80g of organic soil. The treatments were labelled T₁, T₂ and T₃ representing systems containing black soil, red laterite soil and sandy soil respectively. The control treatment (T₄) contained no soil. Triplicate treatments were setup and about 20 3-week old clitellated earthworms of the species Eisenia. fetida with live weights ranging from 255 to 275mg, released into each system for vermicomposting over a period of 12 weeks. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, Organic Carbon (C_org), Total Nitrogen (N_tot), Available Phosphorus (P_avail), Exchangeable Calcium (Ca_exch), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb) and Aluminium (Al) were determined for both the fecal sludge and the vermicompost. The vermicompost in the setup with black soil (T₁) showed the highest C_org mineralization and N_tot, P_avail and Ca_exch enhancement followed by T₂, T₃ and T₄. Treatment T₁ also resulted in the lowest concentration of Fe, Pb and Al in the vermicompost. Concentrations of these heavy metals were found to be higher in the other treatments in increasing order of T₂, T₃ and T₄. Less than 16% earthworm mortality was recorded in all treatments except T₄, in which the mortality was about 38% (38.33 ± 13.74). The enriched substrates were therefore found to provide a more suitable microclimate for earthworm development and produced vermicompost with high nutrient content. However, a more comprehensive study on metal accumulation in the earthworm tissues as a potential metal contaminant is needed to establish a strong hypothesis in the safe use of earthworms for this vermicomposting technique.

Polyurethane Foams for Domestic Sewage Treatment

The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using polyurethane foams (PUF) as a filling of a foam-sand filter to directly treat domestic sewage with increased content of ammonium nitrogen and low organic carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N). The study compared performance of two types of flexible foams: new, cylinder-shaped material (Novel Foams, NF) and waste, scrap foams (Waste Foams, WF). The foams serving as a filling of two segments of a foam-sand filter were assessed for their hydrophobic and physical properties and were tested for their cell structure, i.e., cell diameter, cell size distribution, porosity, and specific surface area. The study accounted also for selected application-related properties, such as hydrophobicity, water absorption, apparent density, dimensional stability, amount of adsorbed biomass, and the possibility of regeneration. Cell morphology was compared in reference foams, foams after 14 months of the filter operation, and regenerated foams. The experimental outcomes indicated WF as an innovative type of biomass carrier for treating domestic sewage with low C/N ratio. SEM images showed that immobilization of microorganisms in NF and WF matrices involved the formation of multi-cellular structures attached to the inner surface of the polyurethane and attachment of single bacterial cells to the foam surface. The amount of adsorbed biomass confirmed that the foam-sand filter made up of two upper layers of waste foams (with diameters and pore content of 0.50-1.53 mm and 53.0-63.5% respectively) provided highly favorable conditions for the development of active microorganisms.

Positive impact of a reducing agent on autotrophic nitrogen removal process and nexus of nitrous oxide emission in an anaerobic downflow hanging sponge reactor

The adjustment of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and the supplement of titanium(III) nitrilotriacetate (Ti(III)-NTA) as a reducing agent were implemented in an anaerobic downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor with the aims to (i) improve nitrogen removal performance and to (ii) eliminate N₂O emission. A laboratory-scale DHS reactor was operated at 35 °C, under autotrophic denitrification conditions with methane gas (14.2 L d^-1) as the main carbon source, NaNO₃ and NaNO₂ (20 mg N L^-1 per compound) as nitrogen sources. The sufficient HRT for simultaneously removing nitrate and nitrite in this reactor was found at 12 h when HRT was reduced from 24 to 6 h. Then at the HRT of 12 h, the addition of Ti(III)-NTA at a final concentration of 25 μM Ti(III) boosted the reactor's nitrogen removal rates from 1.4 ± 0.6 to 4.1 ± 1.9 g NO₃^--N m^-3 d^-1 and 3.2 ± 2.8 to 6.6 ± 3.3 g NO₂^--N m^-3 d^-1. Furthermore, this study is the first to consider the N₂O emission in a continuous reactor applying denitrification coupled to anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) process. Produced N₂O in this DHS reactor was from 10.6 × 10^-4% to 89.0 × 10^-4% of removed NO_x^- without Ti(III)-NTA and from 0.7 × 10^-4% to 61.4 × 10^-4% of removed NO_x^- with Ti(III)-NTA. Overall, these findings suggested the advantage of Ti(III)-NTA as an oxygen scavenger for denitrification processes and the potential of the anaerobic DHS reactor for facilitating the DAMO processes and mitigating N₂O gas.

Impact of Cold Temperatures on Nitrogen Removal in Denitrifying Down-Flow Hanging Sponge (DDHS) Reactors

Innovative and low-energy solutions for the removal of nitrogen from domestic wastewater are needed to achieve regulatory ambitions. However, there is a lack of appropriate technologies for use in non-centralised applications, where receiving waterbodies also are potentially sensitive. Denitrifying down-flow hanging sponge (DDHS) reactors are a promising solution but their performance has not been assessed under colder operating conditions pertinent to northern climates. Two DDHS reactor configurations (short and tall anoxic zones) were tested under “typical” UK winter, summer, and spring/autumn temperatures. At 22 °C, both reactors achieved >58% total nitrogen (TN) removal from domestic wastewater with no significant differences in removal rates between configurations. However, denitrification was lost at 13 °C in the reactor with the short anoxic zone, and was lost totally in both systems at 6 °C. Efficient nitrification was retained at 6 °C in both reactors (>90% removal NH4–N), suggesting that while elevated TN removal was not retained under colder conditions, the DDHS systems still effectively removed ammonia under UK winter conditions. DDHS reactors show promise for use under colder temperature conditions, although optimisation is needed, including the derivation of temperature correction factors for nitrogen removal.

Distribution in natural abundances of stable isotopes of nitrate and retained sludge in a nitrifying bioreactor: Drastic changes in isotopic signatures

This study determined the spatial and temporal changes in natural abundance of stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and δ¹⁸O) with regard to nitrate (NO₃^-) and retained sludge in a nitrifying bioreactor. The bioreactor was continuously fed with synthetic wastewater including ammonium for 61 days at 20 °C. After the start-up period of the bioreactor, the NO₃^- concentration in the effluent gradually increased. The stable isotopes (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) of NO₃^- in the effluent also increased in a phase of incomplete nitrification. The profile experiments showed that the concentration and stable isotopes of NO₃^- changed simultaneously along the wastewater flow in the bioreactor. The stable isotope analysis revealed that nitrification efficiency seems to be strongly related to the δ¹⁵N of NO₃^-. Moreover, the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of the retained sludge drastically changed along the reactor length, from -26‰ to -18‰ and from 5‰ to 30‰, respectively, after 61 days of operation. The isotopic composition of the retained sludge might be affected by the isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) of NO₃^- in the bioreactor. Therefore, the isotope signatures of the retained sludge seem to closely reflect process performance such as nitrification efficiency throughout the operational period. Our findings suggest that the spatial distribution of the isotopic composition of the retained sludge can be used to detect process occurrence within the bioreactor over time.

Ammonium-Nitrogen (NH4+-N) Removal from Groundwater by a Dropping Nitrification Reactor: Characterization of NH4+-N Transformation and Bacterial Community in the Reactor

A dropping nitrification reactor was proposed as a low-cost and energy-saving option for the removal of NH4+-N from contaminated groundwater. The objectives of this study were to investigate NH4+-N removal performance and the nitrogen removal pathway and to characterize the microbial communities in the reactor. Polyolefin sponge cubes (10 mm × 10 mm × 10 mm) were connected diagonally in a nylon thread to produce 1 m long dropping nitrification units. Synthetic groundwater containing 50 mg L−1 NH4+-N was added from the top of the hanging units at a flow rate of 4.32 L day−1 for 56 days. Nitrogen-oxidizing microorganisms in the reactor removed 50.8–68.7% of the NH4+-N in the groundwater, which was aerated with atmospheric oxygen as it flowed downwards through the sponge units. Nitrogen transformation and the functional bacteria contributing to it were stratified in the sponge units. Nitrosomonadales-like AOB predominated and transformed NH4+-N to NO2−-N in the upper part of the reactor. Nitrospirales-like NOB predominated and transformed NO2−-N to NO3−-N in the lower part of the reactor. The dropping nitrification reactor could be a promising technology for oxidizing NH4+-N in groundwater and other similar contaminated wastewaters.

Assessment of UASB-DHS technology for sewage treatment: a comparative study from a sustainability perspective

This paper assesses the technical and economic sustainability of a combined system of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)-down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) for sewage treatment. Additionally, this study compares UASB-DHS with current technologies in India like trickling filters (TF), sequencing batch reactor (SBR), moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), and other combinations of UASB with post-treatment systems such as final polishing ponds (FPU) and extended aeration sludge process (EASP). The sustainability of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) was evaluated using a composite indicator, which incorporated environmental, societal, and economic dimensions. In case of the individual sustainability indicator study, the results showed that UASB-FPU was the most economically sustainable system with a score of 0.512 and aeration systems such as MBBR, EASP, and SBR were environmentally sustainable, whereas UASB-DHS system was socially sustainable. However, the overall comparative analysis indicated that the UASB-DHS system scored the highest value of 2.619 on the global sustainability indicator followed by EASP and MBBR with scores of 2.322 and 2.279, respectively. The highlight of this study was that the most environmentally sustainable treatment plants were not economically and socially sustainable. Moreover, sensitivity analysis showed that five out of the seven scenarios tested, the UASB-DHS system showed good results amongst the treatment system.

Characterization of downflow hanging sponge reactors with regard to structure, process function, and microbial community compositions

The activated sludge (AS) process has been the most widely used process for wastewater treatment despite it has several limitations for its further application and adoption worldwide, owing to unsustainable properties such as high-energy consumption and the production of large amount of excess sludge. To overcome the drawbacks of the AS process, the downflow hanging sponge (DHS) has been developed as an energy-saving and easy-to-maintain alternative. To date, six types of different sponge configurations have been developed and their performances have been evaluated in practical- to full-scale DHS reactors. A large number of studies have been carried out in order to enhance the performance and expand the application fields of the DHS. Transition of this process to the deployment and diffusion stage from the research and development phase is now ongoing in India and Egypt as well as in Japan. Under this situation, concise and state-of-the art review is important for enhancing DHS research and future applications. Herein, we summarize and present the DHS concerning the history of development, the mechanism of treatment, recent studies on its use in the field of wastewater treatment, and the features of microbial community structure.

Nitrifying trickling filters and denitrifying bioreactors for nitrogen management of high-strength anaerobic digestion effluent

The treatment of high-strength anaerobic digester effluent in laboratory-scale trickling filters for nitrification and then anaerobic filters for denitrification is reported. Five media types were investigated in the trickling filters: biochar, granular activated carbon (GAC), zeolite, Pall rings, and gravel. Three media were tested in five denitrifying filters: sand (S), bamboo wood chips (B), eucalyptus wood chips (E), bamboo with sand (B+S), and eucalyptus with sand (E+S). The different wood chips served as a supplemental electron donor for denitrification. From six months of operation, biochar, GAC, zeolite, Pall rings, and gravel media had turbidity (NTU) removal efficiencies of 90, 91, 77, 74, and 74%, respectively, and ammonia removal efficiencies of 83, 87, 85, 30, and 80%, respectively, which was primarily by nitrification to nitrate. For the anaerobic filters, S, B, B+S, E, and E+S had nitrate removal efficiencies of 30, 66, 53, 35, and 35%, and turbidity removal efficiencies of 88, 89, 84, 89, and 88%, respectively. Biochar and bamboo were selected as the best combination of media for trickling filter and anaerobic filter sequential treatment. Based on an average initial influent of 600 mg NH₃-N L^-1, 50 mg NO₃-N L^-1, and 980 NTU, the biochar filter's effluent would be 97 mg NH₃-N L^-1, 475 mg NO₃-N L^-1, and 120 NTU. The bamboo filter's final effluent would be 82 mg NH₃-N L^-1, 157 mg NO₃-N L^-1, and 13 NTU, which corresponds to 63% removal of total N and 99% removal of turbidity. These filter media thus present a simple option for sustainable post-treatment for nitrogen management and effluent polishing in low-resources settings.

Characteristics of DO, organic matter, and ammonium profile for practical-scale DHS reactor under various organic load and temperature conditions

Profile analysis of the down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor was conducted under various temperature and organic load conditions to understand the organic removal and nitrification process for sewage treatment. Under high organic load conditions (3.21-7.89 kg-COD m^-3day^-1), dissolved oxygen (DO) on the upper layer of the reactor was affected by organic matter concentration and water temperature, and sometimes reaches around zero. Almost half of the COD_Cr was removed by the first layer, which could be attributed to the adsorption of organic matter on sponge media. After the first layer, organic removal proceeded along the first-order reaction equation from the second to the fourth layers. The ammoniacal nitrogen removal ratio decreased under high organic matter concentration (above 100 mg L^-1) and low DO (less than 1 mg L^-1) condition. Ammoniacal nitrogen removal proceeded via a zero-order reaction equation along the reactor height. In addition, the profile results of DO, COD_Cr, and NH₃-N were different in the horizontal direction. Thus, it is thought the concentration of these items and microbial activities were not in a uniform state even in the same sponge layer of the DHS reactor.

Defining microbial community composition and seasonal variation in a sewage treatment plant in India using a down-flow hanging sponge reactor

The characteristics of the microbial community in a practical-scale down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor, high in organic matter and sulfate ion concentration, and the seasonal variation of the microbial community composition were investigated. Microorganisms related to sulfur oxidation and reduction (2-27%), as well as Leucobacter (7.50%), were abundant in the reactor. Anaerobic bacteria (27-38% in the first layer) were also in abundance and were found to contribute to the removal of organic matter from the sewage in the reactor. By comparing the Simpson index, the abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) index, and the species composition of the microbial community across seasons (summer/dry, summer/rainy, autumn/dry, and winter/dry), the microbial community was found to change in composition only during the winter season. In addition to the estimation of seasonal variation, the difference in the microbial community composition along the axes of the DHS reactor was investigated for the first time. Although the abundance of each bacterial species differed along both axes of the reactor, the change of the community composition in the reactor was found to be greater along the vertical axis than the horizontal axis of the DHS reactor.

Characterization of sludge properties for sewage treatment in a practical-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor: oxygen consumption and removal of organic matter, ammonium, and sulfur

The characteristics of sludge retained in a down-flow hanging sponge reactor were investigated to provide a better understanding of the sewage treatment process in the reactor. The organic removal and sulfur oxidation conditions were found to differ between the first layer and the following three layers. It was found that 63% and 59% of the organic matter was removed in the first layer, even though the hydraulic retention time was only 0.2 h. It is thought that the organic removal resulted from aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation on the sponge medium. The sulfate concentration increased 1.5-1.9-fold in the first layer, with almost no subsequent change in the second to fourth layers. It was shown that oxidation of sulfide in the influent was completed in the first layer. The result of the oxygen uptake rate test with an ammonium nitrogen substrate suggested that the ammonium oxidation rate was affected by the condition of dissolved oxygen (DO) or oxidation-reduction potential (ORP).

Removal of human pathogenic viruses in a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor treating municipal wastewater and health risks associated with utilization of the effluent for agricultural irrigation

A down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor has been developed as a cost-effective wastewater treatment system that is adaptable to local conditions in low-income countries. A pilot-scale DHS reactor previously demonstrated stable reduction efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium nitrogen over a year at ambient temperature, but the pathogen reduction efficiency of the DHS reactor has yet to be investigated. In the present study, the reduction efficiency of a pilot-scale DHS reactor fed with municipal wastewater was investigated for 10 types of human pathogenic viruses (norovirus GI, GII and GIV, aichivirus, astrovirus, enterovirus, hepatitis A and E viruses, rotavirus, and sapovirus). DHS influent and effluent were collected weekly or biweekly for 337 days, and concentrations of viral genomes were determined by microfluidic quantitative PCR. Aichivirus, norovirus GI and GII, enterovirus, and sapovirus were frequently detected in DHS influent, and the log₁₀ reduction (LR) of these viruses ranged from 1.5 to 3.7. The LR values for aichivirus and norovirus GII were also calculated using a Bayesian estimation model, and the average LR (±standard deviation) values for aichivirus and norovirus GII were estimated to be 1.4 (±1.5) and 1.8 (±2.5), respectively. Quantitative microbial risk assessment was conducted to calculate a threshold reduction level for norovirus GII that would be required for the use of DHS effluent for agricultural irrigation, and it was found that LRs of 2.6 and 3.7 for norovirus GII in the DHS effluent were required in order to not exceed the tolerable burden of disease at 10^-4 and 10^-6 disability-adjusted life years loss per person per year, respectively, for 95% of the exposed population during wastewater reuse for irrigation.

Development of downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor as post treatment of existing combined anaerobic tank treating natural rubber processing wastewater

Conventional aerated tank technology is widely applied for post treatment of natural rubber processing wastewater in Southeast Asia; however, a long hydraulic retention time (HRT) is required and the effluent standards are exceeded. In this study, a downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor was installed as post treatment of anaerobic tank effluent in a natural rubber factory in South Vietnam and the process performance was evaluated. The DHS reactor demonstrated removal efficiencies of 64.2 ± 7.5% and 55.3 ± 19.2% for total chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen, respectively, with an organic loading rate of 0.97 ± 0.03 kg-COD m^-3 day^-1 and a nitrogen loading rate of 0.57 ± 0.21 kg-N m^-3 day^-1. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of the sludge retained in the DHS also corresponded to the result of reactor performance, and both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria were detected in the sponge carrier. In addition, anammox bacteria was found in the retained sludge. The DHS reactor reduced the HRT of 30 days to 4.8 h compared with the existing algal tank. This result indicates that the DHS reactor could be an appropriate post treatment for the existing anaerobic tank for natural rubber processing wastewater treatment.

Performance of a microbial fuel cell-based biosensor for online monitoring in an integrated system combining microbial fuel cell and upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor

A hybrid system integrating a microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor with upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was investigated for real-time online monitoring of the internal operation of the UASB reactor. The features concerned were its rapidity and steadiness with a constant operation condition. In addition, the signal feedback mechanism was examined by the relationship between voltage and time point of changed COD concentration. The sensitivity of different concentrations was explored by comparing the signal feedback time point between the voltage and pH. Results showed that the electrical signal feedback was more sensitive than pH and the thresholds of sensitivity were S=3×10(-5)V/(mg/L) and S=8×10(-5)V/(mg/L) in different concentration ranges, respectively. Although only 0.94% of the influent COD was translated into electricity and applied for biosensing, this integrated system indicated great potential without additional COD consumption for real-time monitoring.

Development of a new non-aeration-based sewage treatment technology: Performance evaluation of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor employing third-generation sponge carriers

A practical-scale down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor using third-generation (G3) sponge carriers was applied for treatment of the effluent from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating municipal sewage. The process performance of the DHS reactor filled with G3 sponge carriers (DHS-G3) was evaluated by conducting an on-site experiment in India over one year. The performance of the DHS-G3 for removal of organic matter and ammonium-nitrogen at a relatively short hydraulic retention time (HRT) of only 0.66 h satisfied the Indian effluent quality standards except for fecal coliform. The removal rate constants for total biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and fecal coliform determined based on the water quality profiles along the DHS-G3 almost reached equilibrium approximately four months after the start of operation, i.e., 2.45 h(-1) for BOD and 2.30 h(-1) for fecal coliform, respectively. The oxygen utilization activity of retained sludge was determined to assess the distribution of heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria along the DHS-G3. Nitrification was promoted in the lower portion of the DHS-G3 reactor in the duration with low organic load, while it decreased when the organic load was increased, probably due to proliferation of heterotrophic bacteria.

Evaluation of the resilience of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor to long-term outages at a sewage treatment plant in India

Resilience to process outages is an essential requirement for sustainable wastewater treatment systems in developing countries. In this study, we evaluated the ability of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor to recover after a 10-day outage. The DHS tested in this study uses polyurethane sponge as packing material. This full-scale DHS reactor has been tested over a period of about 4 years in India with a flow rate of 500 m(3)/day. Water was not supplied to the DHS reactor that was subjected to the 10-day outage; however, the biomass did not dry out because the sponge was able to retain enough water. Soon after the reactor was restarted, a small quantity of biomass, amounting to only 0.1% of the total retained biomass, was eluted. The DHS effluent achieved satisfactory removal of suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, and ammonium nitrogen within 90, 45, and 90 min, respectively. Conversely, fecal coliforms in the DHS effluent did not reach satisfactory levels within 540 min; instead, the normal levels of fecal coliforms were achieved within 3 days. Overall, the tests demonstrated that the DHS reactor was sufficiently robust to withstand long-term outages and achieved steady state soon after restart. This reinforces the suitability of this technology for developing countries.

Performance evaluation of the sulfur-redox-reaction-activated up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket and down-flow hanging sponge anaerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor system for municipal sewage treatment

A sulfur-redox-reaction-activated up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) system, combined with an anaerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor (A2SBR), has been used for municipal sewage treatment for over 2 years. The present system achieved a removal rate of 95±14% for BOD, 74±22% for total nitrogen, and 78±25% for total phosphorus, including low water temperature conditions. Sludge conversion rates during the operational period were 0.016 and 0.218 g-VSS g-COD-removed(-1) for the UASB, and DHS, respectively, which are similar to a conventional UASB-DHS system, which is not used of sulfur-redox-reaction, for sewage treatment. Using the sulfur-redox reaction made advanced treatment of municipal wastewater with minimal sludge generation possible, even in winter. Furthermore, the occurrence of a unique phenomenon, known as the anaerobic sulfur oxidation reaction, was confirmed in the UASB reactor under the winter season.

Long-term performance evaluation of down-flow hanging sponge reactor regarding nitrification in a full-scale experiment in India

The first full-scale down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor applied to post-treatment of effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of municipal sewage was evaluated, with emphasis on nitrification. The full-scale DHS reactor was successfully operated at a hydraulic retention time of 1.5h for over 1800 days in India. The DHS reactor produced effluent with 6 mg L(-1) ammonium nitrogen, corresponding to 79% removal efficiency. The total nitrogen removal by the DHS reactor was 65%. The high process performance of the DHS reactor was supported by its distinctive characteristics of (1) high dissolved oxygen of 5.4 mg L(-1) in the DHS effluent without forced ventilation, (2) dense retained sludge in the range of 23-46 gVSS Lsponge(-1), and (3) adequate sludge activity of 52 mgN gVSS(-1) day(-1) for nitrification. The full-scale experiment has proven that the DHS reactor has practical applicability to developing countries.

On-site evaluation of the performance of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor as a post-treatment process of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor for treating sewage in India

A down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor is a novel, unaerated, aerobic, biofilm reactor that is used to polish effluent received from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for treating municipal sewage. A full-scale DHS reactor was constructed for post-treatment of a full-scale UASB reactor at a municipal sewage treatment plant in India. Performance of the DHS reactor was evaluated with respect to organic removal over 1800 days of continuous operation. The UASB+DHS system consistently produced effluent with chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and suspended solids (SS) values of 37, 6.0 and 19 mg L(-1), on average, respectively. The sludge yield of the DHS reactor was estimated to be 0.04 kg SS kg(-1) COD removed or 0.12 kg SS kg(-1) BOD removed, which is considerably lower than other aerobic treatment methods that have been employed for polishing UASB effluent.

Autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite in a sponge-bed trickling filter

Partial nitritation in sponge-bed trickling filters (STF) under natural air circulation was studied in two reactors: STF-1 and STF-2 operated at 30°C with sponge thickness of 0.75 and 1.50cm, respectively. The coexistence of nitrifiers and Anammox bacteria was obtained and attributed to the favorable environment created by the reactors' design and operational regimes. After 114days of operation, the STF-1 had an average NH4(+)-N removal of 69.3% (1.17kgN/m(3)sponged) and a total nitrogen removal of 52.2% (0.88kgN/m(3)sponged) at a Nitrogen Loading Rate (NLR) of 1.68kgN/m(3)sponged and Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 1.71h. The STF-2 showed an average NH4(+)-N removal of 81.6 % (0.77kgN/m(3)sponged) and a total nitrogen removal of 54% (0.51kgN/m(3)sponged), at an NLR of 0.95kgN/m(3)sponged and HRT of 2.96h. The findings suggest that autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite in STF systems is a feasible alternative.

Protection of biomass from snail overgrazing in a trickling filter using sponge media as a biomass carrier: down-flow hanging sponge system

This study investigated down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) technology as a promising trickling filter (TF) using sponge media as a biomass carrier with an emphasis on protection of the biomass against macrofauna overgrazing. A pilot-scale DHS reactor fed with low-strength municipal sewage was operated under ambient temperature conditions for 1 year at a sewage treatment plant in Bangkok, Thailand. The results showed that snails (macrofauna) were present on the surface of the sponge media, but could not enter into it, because the sponge media with smaller pores physically protected the biomass from the snails. As a result, the sponge media maintained a dense biomass, with an average value of 22.3 gVSS/L sponge (58.1 gTSS/L sponge) on day 370. The snails could graze biomass on the surface of the sponge media. The DHS reactor process performance was also successful. The DHS reactor requires neither chemical treatments nor specific operations such as flooding for snail control. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the DHS reactor is able to protect biomass from snail overgrazing.

Spatial changes in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of sludge and associated organisms in a biological sewage treatment system

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) have been utilized as powerful tools for tracing energy or material flows within food webs in a range of environmental studies. However, the techniques have rarely been applied to the study of biological wastewater treatment technologies. We report on the spatial changes in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in sludge and its associated biotic community in a wastewater treatment system. This system consisted of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) which is a novel type of trickling filter. The results showed clear spatial changes in the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of suspended solids (SS), retained sludge, and macrofauna (oligochaetes and fly larvae) in the system. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N was used as a natural tracer to determine the SS dynamic throughout the system. The results imply that SS in the DHS effluent was mainly eluted from the retained sludge in the lower section of the DHS reactor. The δ¹⁵N of the retained sludge in the DHS reactor increased drastically from the inlet towards to the outlet, from -0.7‰ to 10.3‰. This phenomenon may be attributed to nitrogen conversion processes (i.e. nitrification and denitrification). The δ¹⁵N of oligochaetes also increased from the inlet to the outlet, which corresponded well to that of the retained sludge. Thus, the δ¹⁵N of the oligochaetes might simply mirror the δ¹⁵N of the retained sludge. On the other hand, the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of sympatric fly larvae differed from those of the oligochaetes sampled, indicating dietary differences between the taxa. Therefore δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N reflected both treatment and dietary characteristics. We concluded that δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values are potentially useful as alternative indicators for investigating microbial ecosystems and treatment characteristics of biological wastewater treatment systems.

A downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor for faecal coliform removal from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) effluent

This research was conducted to study the faecal coliforms removal capacity of downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors as a post-treatment for an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Three long-term continuous laboratory-scale DHS reactors, i.e. a reactor with cube type sponges without recirculation, a similar one with recirculation and a reactor with curtain type sponges, were studied. The porosities of the applied medium were 91%, 87% and 47% respectively. The organic loading rates were 0.86 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1), 0.53 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) and 0.24 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) correspondingly at hydraulic loading rates of 1.92 m3 m(-2) d(-1), 2.97 m3 m(-2) d(-1) and 1.32 m3 m(-2) d(-1), respectively (COD: chemical oxygen demand). The corresponding averages for faecal coliform removal were 99.997%, 99.919% and 92.121% respectively. The 1989 WHO guidelines standards, in terms of faecal coliform content for unrestricted irrigation (category A), was achieved with the effluent of the cube type DHS (G1) without recirculation. Restricted irrigation, category B and C, is assigned to the effluent of the cube type with recirculation and the curtain type, respectively. Particularly for organic compounds, the effluent of evaluated DHS reactors complies with USEPA standards for irrigation of so called non-food crops like pasture for milking animals, fodder, fibre, and seed crops.