Effect of dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen ratios on the partial nitrification/denitrification process in moving bed biofilm reactors

Partial nitrification was reported to be technically feasible and economically favorable, especially for wastewater with high ammonium concentration or low C/N ratio. In this study, the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) and influent ratio of chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio on biological nitrogen removal from synthetic wastewater was investigated. Experiments were conducted in moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) on partial nitrification process in pilot-plant configuration for 300 days. DO levels were changed from 0.04 to 0.12 and 0.42 to 3.4 mg/l in the anoxic (R1) and aerobic (R2) reactors, respectively. The optimum DO for partial nitrification was between 1-1.5 mg/l in the aerobic reactor (R2). Influent COD/N ratios between 20 and 2 g COD/g-N were tested by changing the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) supplied to the pilot plant. During operational conditions when the DO concentration in aerobic reactor was above 1 mg/l, near complete organic carbon removal occurred in the total MBBRs system. The effluent total nitrogen concentration in the operational conditions (1.7-2.1 mg O2/l and NH+ 4-N=35.7 mg N/l) was obtained in the range of 0.85-2 mg/l. The highest nitrite accumulation (50%- 52%) took place at the DO concentration of 1-1.5 mg/l and increased with decreasing COD/N ratio in aerobic reactor (R2). This study showed that the average nitrification rate at various COD/N ratios is about 0.96 gN/m2 per day while the maximum nitrification rate is about 2 gN/m2 per day at COD/N ratios lower than 6. The experimental COD/N ratio for denitrification was close to complete sum of NO2 - and NO3 - (NOx) removal efficiency (about 99%) at COD/N ratio equal 14 in the operational conditions in the anoxic reactor (R1)

Effectiveness of chitosan as natural coagulant aid in removal of turbidity and bacteria from turbid waters

There has been considerable interest in the development of natural coagulants such as chitosan. By using natural coagulants, considerable savings in chemicals and sludge handling cost may be achieved. Chitosan, a natural linear biopolyaminosaccharide, is obtained by alkaline deacetylation of chitin. Present study is aimed to examine the effects of aluminium sulfate (alum) as coagulant in conjunction with chitosan as coagulant aid on removal of turbidity and bacteria from turbid waters. These tests were carried out using artificial water and kaoline as model suspensions to represent the wide range of natural turbid waters. A conventional jar test apparatus was employed for the tests. After determining of optimum mixing intensity and duration, alum suspensions were added to the samples and after one minute, the desired doses of natural chitosan were added. In optimum condition, residual Al+3 in treated water was less than 0.2 mg/l and meets the EPA guidelines. Turbidity removal efficiency was 74.3- 98.2% by chitosan at a pH 7.0-7.5 for all turbidities. In addition, chitosan significantly reduced the required dosage of primary coagulant 50-87.5%. Bacteria reduction of 2-4 log units (99 - 99.99%) was obtained within the first 1 to 2 h of treatment. Overall results indicate that E.coli was removed better than S. faecalis. The main effects of coagulation by chitosan on bacteria are enmeshment and stack on the microbial cell surface. We demonstrated that optimal design method is an efficient approach for optimization of coagulation-flocculation process and appropriate for raw water treatment

Clinical, haematobiochemical and ruminal changes during the onset and recovery of induced lactic acidosis in sheep

A total number of five sheep were used in cross over design with an interval of three weeks for induction of lactic acidosis with sucrose, and treated with sodium bicarbonate as antacid, yeast as probiotics and gentian root powder as medicinal herbs. The acidoteic sheep showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in body temp, significant increase in respiratory rate, pulse rate and reduction of ruminal movement with depression, weakness, semisolid feces and stand with their head held lowered. There were significant changes in heamatobiochemical, ruminal parameters, these changes were more obvious at 24 hours after induction of acidosis. The clinical, heamatobiochemical, ruminal parameters of induced lactic acidosis were improved rapidly post-treatment with sodium bicarbonate and yeast, whereas these parameters showed slow improvement post treatment by gentian root powder. It was concluded that treatment of induced lactic acidosis in sheep by sodium bicarbonate and yeast give a good result and improve general health condition of the animal but it's preferable for treatment of lactic acidosis using a combination of both sodium bicarbonate and live yeast as sodium bicarbonate raise the ruminal pH rapidly and yeast stabilizes it. Treatment of lactic acidosis by oral administration of freshly grated gentian root showed slow improvement, so further investigation must be done before using gentian root alone in treating lactic acidosis