title: Rapid formation and pollutant removal ability of aerobic granules in a sequencing batch airlift reactor at low temperature.
abstract: The start-up of an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactor at low temperature was more difficult than at ambient temperature.The rapid formation and characteristics of AGS in a sequencing batch airlift reactor at low temperature were investigated. The nutrient removal ability of the system was also evaluated. It was found that compact granules with clear boundary were formed within 10 days and steady state was achieved within 25 days. The settling properties of sludge were improved with the increasing secretion of extracellular polymeric substances and removal performances of pollutants were enhanced along with granulation. The average removal efficiencies of COD, NH4(+)-N, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) after aerobic granules maturing were over 90.9%, 94.7%, 75.4%, 80.2%, respectively. The rise of temperature had little impact on pollutant biodegradation while the variation of dissolved oxygen caused obvious changes in TN and TP removal rates. COD concentrations of effluents were below 30 mg l(-1) in most cycles of operation with a wide range of organic loading rates (0.6-3.0 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)). The rapid granulation and good performance of pollutant reduction by the system might provide an alternate for wastewater treatment in cold regions.
authors.affiliation: a School of Civil Engineering , Wuhan University , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: a School of Civil Engineering , Wuhan University , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: a School of Civil Engineering , Wuhan University , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a School of Civil Engineering , Wuhan University , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D001704:Biopolymers; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Aerobic granules; airlift reactor; low temperature; pollutant degradation; rapid granulation