title: Biosolids mineralization in an anaerobic-aerobic combined reactor system.
abstract: In this paper, we describe a biosolids mineralization process that could address some concerns about biosolids management. Solids retention in a combined anaerobic/aerobic reactor system promotes biosolids mineralization. Solids retained in the reactor were subjected to both anaerobic and aerobic degradation in two different zones in the reactor. After 267 d of operation, 75% of the solids that entered the reactors were mineralized, 62% of the total nitrogen (TN) was transformed, 51% of the phosphorus in the reactors was precipitated, and 39% of the solids dissolved and appeared in the effluent. Accumulation of solids in the reactors did not have an adverse effect on reactor performance. Evidence of biosolids degradation included a decrease in the VSS/TSS ratio, an increase in temperature, loss of nitrogen, decrease in COD, and an increase in TDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Prathap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parameswaran
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen