title: Effects of sponge size and type on the performance of an up-flow sponge bioreactor in primary treated sewage effluent treatment.
abstract: The effects of polyurethane sponge size and type on the performance of an up-flow sponge bioreactor were studied using different sponge cube sizes (1 x 1 x 1 cm, 2 x 2 x 2 cm and 3 x 3 x 3 cm) and types of sponge (S28-30/45R, S28-30/60R, S28-30/80R and S28-30/90R). The reactors were operated under anaerobic conditions in an early stage and an aerobic condition in a latter stage. The results indicate that there was no significant difference in the organic and nutrient removal rates between sponge types. The medium size sponge (2 x 2 x 2 cm) had the best performance in terms of both biomass growth and pollutants removal. Under anaerobic condition, the COD, TN and TP removal efficiencies were up to 70%, 45% and 55%, respectively, and significantly improved under aerobic conditions (e.g. >90% TOC, 95% COD, 65% TN and 90% TP). The external biomass grew faster under anaerobic conditions while internal biomass was dominant under aerobic condition.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Tien Thanh
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Huu Hao
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Wenshan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Archie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Listowski
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010100:Oxygen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012722:Sewage; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen