Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Competition Between Filaments and Floc-formers in Activated Sludge

filamentous bulking;floc size;quantitative FISH;bacterial storage;diffusion limitation;kinetic selection

Lou, In Chio ; Francis L. de los Reyes III, Committee Chair,George W. Roberts, Committee Member,Joel J.Ducoste, Committee Member,Detlef R. U. Knappe, Committee Member,Lou, In Chio ; Francis L. de los Reyes III ; Committee Chair ; George W. Roberts ; Committee Member ; Joel J.Ducoste ; Committee Member ; Detlef R. U. Knappe ; Committee Member

University:North Carolina State University

关键词: filamentous bulking;    floc size;    quantitative FISH;    bacterial storage;    diffusion limitation;    kinetic selection;   

Others  :  https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.16/3694/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: null

【 摘 要 】

Filamentous bulking, the most common solids separation problem in activated sludge systems, is caused by the excessive growth of filamentous bacteria over floc-forming bacteria, resulting in decreased sludge settling ability.The competition between the two types of organisms has been historically described using kinetic selection.However, it has been suggested that other factors, such as the presence of a filamentous "backbone", differences in decay rates, bacterial storage abilities, and substrate diffusion limitation, may also affect the microbial selection.In this research, various hypotheses that integrated several of those factors were tested using modeling, reactor and molecular studies, and a new conceptual qualitative model combining kinetics and diffusion explaining bulking was developed.As a first step, a bacterial competition model integrating kinetic selection theory, filamentous backbone theory, decay rates and storage abilities of filaments and floc formers was set up to predict and explain coexistence in a completely mixed reactor. Sensitivity analysis showed that the kinetic parameters μmax and Ks, storage rate constants and backbone coefficient had the greatest effect on the simulation results.Monte Carlo simulation showed the effect of storage, and the ranges of dilution rates wherein one group outcompete the other were delineated.Since bacterial storage was an important factor in microbial selection, respirometry-based kinetic parameter measurement was reevaluated by considering cell storage.Substrate uptake tests combined with metabolic modeling were used to include bacterial storage in determining the kinetic parameters for bulking and non-bulking sludge.It was found that non-bulking sludge had higher maximum substrate uptake rates than bulking sludge, consistent with results from respirometry.Quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that the filaments Eikelboom Type 1851, Type 021N and Thiothrix nivea were dominant in bulking sludge, comprising 42.0 % of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS), with 61.6% of the total filament length extending from flocs into bulk solution.Only low levels of Type 1851 filament length (4.9% of MLVSS) occurred in non-bulking sludge, 83.0% of which grew inside the flocs.This result seemingly supported the kinetic selection theory, but contradicted our previous experimental data that showed that bulking and non-bulking sludge have similar levels of total filaments length, and thus supporting the diffusion limitation hypothesis.To resolve this contradiction, a new conceptual qualitative framework was developed in this study.We hypothesize that the growth rates of filaments and floc formers are affected by the combination of kinetic selection and substrate diffusion limitation.Three different regions (bulking, transitional and non-bulking region) based on substrate concentration are suggested.In the bulking and non-bulking regions, kinetic selection controls the growth rate process and favors filaments and floc formers, respectively.However, in the transitional region, substrate diffusion limitation, determined by the floc size, plays an important role in causing bulking.To test this framework, sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated with various influent substrate concentrations, and sludge settleability was measured at various floc sizes induced by different mixing strength.A model integrating both mechanisms was developed to simulate the substrate concentrations at different floc sizes.The modeling results showed the occurrence of diffusion limitation inside the flocs at a certain range of activated sludge floc sizes, and the experimental data supported this framework in the bulking and transitional regions.