Title: Bioaugmentation as a tool to accelerate the start-up of anoxic-oxic process in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant at low temperature

Authors: Lijun Zhao, Jingbo Guo, Jixian Yang, Li Wang, Fang Ma

Addresses: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 202 Haihe Road, Nanggang District, Harbin 150090, PR China; School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, PR China. ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 202 Haihe Road, Nanggang District, Harbin 150090, PR China. ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 202 Haihe Road, Nanggang District, Harbin 150090, PR China. ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 202 Haihe Road, Nanggang District, Harbin 150090, PR China. ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 202 Haihe Road, Nanggang District, Harbin 150090, PR China

Abstract: Start up of anoxic-oxic process in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant at low temperature was studied in this paper. Bioaugmentation technology was used to accelerate the start up. Aeration rate and feed style of influent were also controlled as associated measure to reduce the negative effect of low temperature on start up. The results showed that the process was successfully started up in 15 days. The removal efficiencies of COD, TN and TP were 69%, 47% and 46%, respectively. Microscopic analysis showed that Suctorias, which were excellent indicators of good sludge, occurred in the biosolid in the last days of start up. As a conclusion, bioaugmentation seems to be a promising method to accelerate the start up of bioprocess in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant at low temperature.

Keywords: bioaugmentation; anoxic-oxic start-up; municipal wastewater; wastewater treatment plants; low temperature; aeration rate; feed style.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.025125

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.37 No.2/3, pp.205 - 215

Published online: 13 May 2009 *

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