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Wágner DS, Peces M, Nierychlo M, Mielczarek AT, Thornberg D, Nielsen PH. Seasonal microbial community dynamics complicates the evaluation of filamentous bulking mitigation strategies in full-scale WRRFs. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 216:118340. [PMID: 35364352 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The activated sludge wastewater treatment process has been thoroughly researched in more than 100 years, yet there are still operational challenges that have not been fully resolved. Such a challenge is the control of filamentous bulking caused by the overgrowth of certain filamentous bacteria. In this study, we tested different mitigation strategies to reduce filamentous bulking, caused by two common filamentous genera found in full-scale water resource recovery facilities (WRRF), Candidatus Microthrix and Candidatus Amarolinea. PAX dosing, ozone addition, hydrocyclone implementation, and the addition of nano-coagulants were tested as mitigation strategies in four parallel treatment lines in a full-scale WRRF over three consecutive years. Unexpectedly, the activated sludge settleability was not affected by any of the mitigation strategies. Some of the strategies appeared to have a strong mitigating effect on the two filamentous species. However, detailed analyses of the microbial communities revealed strong recurrent seasonal variations in all four lines, including the control line which masked the real effect. After removing the effect of the seasonal variation by using a time-series decomposition approach, it was clear that the filamentous bacteria were mostly unaffected by the mitigation strategies. Only PAX dosing had some effect on Ca. Microthrix, but only on one species, Ca. Microthrix subdominans, and not on the most common Ca. Microthrix parvicella. Overall, our study shows the importance of long-term monitoring of microbial communities at species level to understand the normal seasonal pattern to effectively plan and execute full-scale experiments. Moreover, the results highlight the importance of using parallel reference treatment lines when evaluating the effect of mitigation strategies in full-scale treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorottya S Wágner
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Biofos, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miriam Peces
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Marta Nierychlo
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | | | - Per H Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
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Dopp E, Pannekens H, Gottschlich A, Schertzinger G, Gehrmann L, Kasper-Sonnenberg M, Richard J, Joswig M, Grummt T, Schmidt TC, Wilhelm M, Tuerk J. Effect-based evaluation of ozone treatment for removal of micropollutants and their transformation products in waste water. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2021; 84:418-439. [PMID: 33622194 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2021.1881854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this interdisciplinary research project in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, entitled "Elimination of pharmaceuticals and organic micropollutants from waste water" involved the conception of cost-effective and innovative waste-water cleaning methods. In this project in vitro assays, in vivo assays and chemical analyses were performed on three municipal waste-water treatment plants (WWTP). This publication focuses on the study of the in vitro bioassays. Cytotoxic, estrogenic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects of the original as well as enriched water samples were monitored before and after wastewater treatment steps using MTT and PAN I, ER Calux and A-YES, micronucleus and Comet assays as well as AMES test. In most cases, the measured effects were reduced after ozonation, but in general, the biological response depended upon the water composition of the WWTP, in particular on the formed by-products and concentration of micropollutants. In order to be able to assess the genotoxic and/or mutagenic potential of waste-water samples using bioassays like Ames test, Comet assay or micronucleus test an enrichment of the water sample via solid-phase extraction is recommended. This is in agreement with previous studies such as the "ToxBox"-Project of the Environmental Agency in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Dopp
- Department of Toxicology, IWW Water Center, Mülheim A. D. Ruhr, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Helena Pannekens
- Department of Toxicology, IWW Water Center, Mülheim A. D. Ruhr, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anne Gottschlich
- Department of Toxicology, IWW Water Center, Mülheim A. D. Ruhr, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schertzinger
- Department of Toxicology, IWW Water Center, Mülheim A. D. Ruhr, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Linda Gehrmann
- Department of Environmental Hygiene and Trace Substances, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Duisburg, Germany
| | - Monika Kasper-Sonnenberg
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jessica Richard
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Joswig
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tamara Grummt
- Department of Water Hygiene and Toxicology, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), Bad Elster, Germany
| | - Torsten C Schmidt
- Department of Toxicology, IWW Water Center, Mülheim A. D. Ruhr, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Instrumental Analytical Chemistry (IAC), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Wilhelm
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jochen Tuerk
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Environmental Hygiene and Trace Substances, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Duisburg, Germany
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Barbarroja P, Zornoza A, Aguado D, Borrás L, Alonso JL. A multivariate approach of changes in filamentous, nitrifying and protist communities and nitrogen removal efficiencies during ozone dosage in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 252:1500-1508. [PMID: 31272009 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The application of low ozone dosage to minimize the problems caused by filamentous foaming was evaluated in two bioreactors of an urban wastewater treatment plant. Filamentous and nitrifying bacteria, as well as protist and metazoa, were monitored throughout a one-year period by FISH and conventional microscopy to examine the effects of ozone application on these specific groups of microorganisms. Multivariate data analysis was used to determine if the ozone dosage was a key factor determining the low carbon and nitrogen removal efficiencies observed throughout the study period, as well as to evaluate its impact on the biological communities monitored. The results of this study suggested that ozonation did not significantly affect the COD removal efficiency, although it had a moderate effect on ammonia removal efficiency. Filamentous bacteria were the community most influenced by ozone (24.9% of the variance explained by ozone loading rate), whilst protist and metazoa were less affected (11.9% of the variance explained). Conversely, ozone loading rate was not a factor in determining the nitrifying bacterial community abundance and composition, although this environmental variable was correlated with ammonia removal efficiency. The results of this study suggest that different filamentous morphotypes were selectively affected by ozone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Barbarroja
- Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Andrés Zornoza
- Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Daniel Aguado
- Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luis Borrás
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universitat de València, Avda de la Universidad s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Luis Alonso
- Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
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Levén L, Wijnbladh E, Tuvesson M, Kragelund C, Hallin S. Control of Microthrix parvicella and sludge bulking by ozone in a full-scale WWTP. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2016; 73:866-872. [PMID: 26901730 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2015.560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bulking and rising sludge are common problems in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and are primarily caused by increased growth of filamentous bacteria such as Microthrix parvicella. It has a negative impact on sludge settling properties in activated sludge (AS) process, in addition to being responsible for foam formation. Different methods can be used to control sludge bulking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dosage of on-site generated ozone in the recycled AS flow in a full-scale WWTP having problems caused by M. parvicella. The evaluation of the experiment was assessed by process data, microscopic analysis and microbial screening on the experimental and control line before, during and after the period of ozone dosage. The ozone treatment resulted in decreased abundance of M. parvicella and improved the settling properties, without impairing the overall process performance. Both chemical oxygen demand (COD)- and N-removal were unaffected and the dominant populations involved in nitrification, as analysed by fluorescent in situ hybridization, remained during the experimental period. When the ozone treatment was terminated, the problems with sludge bulking reappeared, indicating the importance of continuous evaluation of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotta Levén
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, JTI, PO Box 7033, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden E-mail:
| | - Erik Wijnbladh
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7025, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Caroline Kragelund
- Department of Biotechnology, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 49, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark and Danish Technological Institute, Kongsvang Alle 29, DK-8000, Denmark
| | - Sara Hallin
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7025, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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Guo J, Peng Y, Yang X, Wang Z, Zhu A. Changes in the microbial community structure of filaments and floc formers in response to various carbon sources and feeding patterns. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:7633-44. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5805-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Revised: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Guo J, Peng Y, Wang Z, Yuan Z, Yang X, Wang S. Control filamentous bulking caused by chlorine-resistant Type 021N bacteria through adding a biocide CTAB. WATER RESEARCH 2012; 46:6531-6542. [PMID: 23079128 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous bulking sludge due to excessive growth of filamentous bacteria is a serious operational problem in activated sludge plants. The addition of chemicals is one of widespread ways to control filamentous bulking. In this study, filamentous bulking in a continuous activated sludge system was found to be mainly caused by Eikelboom Type 021N filamentous bacteria likely due to low substrate concentration gradients. These Type 021N bacteria were found to be resistant to chlorination, maintaining cell integrity at a dosage of up to 80 mg Cl/gSS. An alternative biocidal agent, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), exhibited a much stronger biocidal effect on these filaments, which significantly improved sludge settleability. Type 021N with filamentous index of 5 was selectively killed, but floc-formers recovery their activity after CTAB termination. The study implied that CTAB might have more penetration capacity to cell wall of chlorine-resistant Type 021N bacteria. We therefore suggest the penetration property of filament cell wall should be considered or tested before the selection of biocide type in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Guo
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environmental Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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