Effects of sponge size and type on the performance of an up-flow sponge bioreactor in primary treated sewage effluent treatment

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 101; no. 5; pp. 1416 - 1420
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Tien Thanh, Ngo, Huu Hao, Guo, Wenshan, Johnston, Archie, Listowski, Andrzej
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2010; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anaerobiosis; Animals; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Bioreactors; Bioreactors - microbiology; Bioreactors - standards; Biotechnology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Nitrogen - isolation & purification; Organic and nutrient removal; Organic Chemicals - isolation & purification; Oxygen - isolation & purification; Phosphorus - isolation & purification; Pollution; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Porifera - chemistry; Primary treated sewage effluent; Sewage - chemistry; Sewage - microbiology; Sponge size; Sponge type; Up-flow sponge bioreactor; Various methods and equipments; Waste Disposal, Fluid - instrumentation; Wastewaters; Water Purification - instrumentation; Water treatment and pollution; Organic and nutrient removal; Sponge type; Primary treated sewage effluent; Up-flow sponge bioreactor; Sponge size; Bioreactor; Demineralization; Sponge; Waste water purification; Effluent
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.07.081

The effects of polyurethane sponge size and type on the performance of an up-flow sponge bioreactor were studied using different sponge cube sizes (1 × 1 × 1 cm, 2 × 2 × 2 cm and 3 × 3 × 3 cm) and types of sponge (S28-30/45R, S28-30/60R, S28-30/80R and S28-30/90R). The reactors were operated under anaerobic conditions in an early stage and an aerobic condition in a latter stage. The results indicate that there was no significant difference in the organic and nutrient removal rates between sponge types. The medium size sponge (2 × 2 × 2 cm) had the best performance in terms of both biomass growth and pollutants removal. Under anaerobic condition, the COD, TN and TP removal efficiencies were up to 70%, 45% and 55%, respectively, and significantly improved under aerobic conditions (e.g. >90% TOC, 95% COD, 65% TN and 90% TP). The external biomass grew faster under anaerobic conditions while internal biomass was dominant under aerobic condition.