Effects of micro-bubble aeration on the pollutant removal and energy-efficient process in a floc-granule sludge coexistence system

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Minghui Liu (Zhengzhou University)

Ju Wang (Zhengzhou University)

Z. Peng (Zhengzhou University, TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Copyright
© 2023 Minghui Liu, Ju Wang, Z. Peng
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2023.376
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 Minghui Liu, Ju Wang, Z. Peng
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Issue number
11
Volume number
88
Pages (from-to)
3044-3055
Reuse Rights

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Abstract

To investigate energy-saving approaches in wastewater treatment plants and decrease aeration energy consumption, this study successfully established a floc-granule coexistence system in a sequencing batch airlift reactor (SBAR) employing micro-bubble aeration. The analysis focused on granule formation and pollutant removal under various aeration intensities, and compared its performance with a traditional floc-based coarse-bubble aeration system. The results showed that granulation efficiency was positively associated with aeration intensity, which enhanced the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and facilitated granule formation. The SBAR with the micro-aeration intensity of 30 mL·min-1 showed the best granulation performance (granulation efficiency 52.6%). In contrast to the floc-based system, the floc-granule coexistence system showed better treatment performance, and the best removal efficiencies of NH4+-N, TN, and TP were 100.0, 77.0, and 89.5%, respectively. The floc-granule coexistence system also enriched higher abundance of nutrients removal microbial species, such as Nitrosomonas (0.05-0.14%), Nitrospira (0.14-2.32%), Azoarcus (2.95-12.17%), Thauera (0.43-1.95%), and Paracoccus (0.76-2.89%). The energy-saving potential was evaluated, which indicated it is feasible for the micro-aeration floc-granule coexistence system to decrease the aeration consumption by 14.4% as well as improve the effluent.