title: Recycled and virgin plastic carriers in hybrid reactors for wastewater treatment.
abstract: The reduction of organic and nitrogen pollution of wastewater was investigated in two hybrid reactors and compared with the reduction obtained by using a conventional activated sludge reactor (ASR) run as a control. Both HR-1 and HR-2 were activated sludge systems where a low-density carrier, P1 (polyethylene) for HR-1 and P2 (recycled plastics) for HR-2, was added. Firstly, the three reactors were operated at 10 days Suspended Solid Retention Time (SRT(SS)), leading to a complete nitrification. Secondly, the SRT(SS) for each reactor was lowered to 3 days. Nitrification was lost for the ASR but remained complete for HR's. Respirometric techniques were used to measure fixed or suspended biomass activities for heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass. More than 90% of the autotrophic activity was found on the supports whatever the SRT(SS) used. The results may underline the role of the carrier geometry or surface characteristics on the autotrophic/heterotrophic microorganism distribution.
authors: Laboratory of Environmental Process Engineering (LIPE)-INSA-Toulouse, France. etienne.paul@insatoulouse.fr
authors: Etienne
authors: E
authors: Paul
authors: Delmira Beatriz
authors: DB
authors: Wolff
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Ochoa
authors: Rejane Helena Ribeiro
authors: RH
authors: da Costa
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D020959:Polyethylene; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; D020959:Polyethylene; D009584:Nitrogen