Bioresource Technology, Vol.255, 96-103, 2018
Long-term operation with an insight into a newly established green biosorption reactor: Can it achieve "1+1 > 2"?
An eco-friendly system of green bio-sorption reactor (GBR), constructed by embedding alum sludge-based constructed wetland (AlCW) into a conventional activated sludge process to achieve "1+ 1 > 2", was evaluated under a long-term operation basis. Insight into the pollutants removal, particularly the role of the AlCW in the GBR, was explored and discussed. The results showed that the GBR could achieve 90% and 95% removal for TN and TP (Stage 4), respectively, under the hydraulic and nitrogen loading rate of 2.07 m(3)/(m(3).d) and 166.2 gN/(m(3).d), respectively. Intriguingly, despite the P adsorption, the AlCW enlarged the size of the activated sludge flocs which benefited the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Subversively, the embedding AlCW brings about dual-intensification in both capacity and efficiency. In addition, the GBR as an ecological engineering system can be employed closely to residential area in line with its green and pleasing appearance.
Keywords:Green bio-sorption reactor;Alum sludge-based constructed wetland;Activated sludge;Simultaneous nitrification & denitrification;Upgrading