Characterizing the structure of aerobic granular sludge using ultra-high field magnetic resonance (original) (raw)

Determining porosity profiles during filtration and expression of sewage sludge by NMR imaging

AIChE Journal, 1996

The formation of a filter cake during mechanical dewatering (filtration and expression) of sludge is studied using one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging of porosity profiles. The experiments clearly showed the formation of a porosity gradient during filtration and the disappearing of this gradient during expression, forming a cake with a uniform porosity. This technique makes it possible to investigate the material behavior of the porous medium, which is needed before any model calculations can be performed. The results indicate that NMR imaging is usejid in nondestructive monitoring of the filtration and expression process of sludge.

Diffusional Properties of Methanogenic Granular Sludge: 1H NMR Characterization

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2003

The diffusive properties of anaerobic methanogenic and sulfidogenic aggregates present in wastewater treatment bioreactors were studied using diffusion analysis by relaxation time-separated pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and NMR imaging. NMR spectroscopy measurements were performed at 22°C with 10 ml of granular sludge at a magnetic field strength of 0.5 T (20 MHz resonance frequency for protons). Self-diffusion coefficients of H 2 O in the investigated series of mesophilic aggregates were found to be 51 to 78% lower than the self-diffusion coefficient of free water. Interestingly, self-diffusion coefficients of H 2 O were independent of the aggregate size for the size fractions investigated. Diffusional transport occurred faster in aggregates growing under nutrient-rich conditions (e.g., the bottom of a reactor) or at high (55°C) temperatures than in aggregates cultivated in nutrient-poor conditions or at low (10°C) temperatures. Exposure of aggregates to 2.5% glutaraldehyde or heat (70 or 90°C for 30 min) modified the diffusional transport up to 20%. In contrast, deactivation of aggregates by HgCl 2 did not affect the H 2 O self-diffusion coefficient in aggregates. Analysis of NMR images of a single aggregate shows that methanogenic aggregates possess a spin-spin relaxation time and self-diffusion coefficient distribution, which are due to both physical (porosity) and chemical (metal sulfide precipitates) factors.

Aerobic granular sludge – state of the art

Water Science and Technology, 2007

In September 2006, preliminary to the IWA biofilm conference, a second workshop about aerobic granular sludge was held in Delft, The Netherlands, of which a summary of the discussion outcomes is given in this paper. The definition of aerobic granular sludge was discussed and complemented with a few additional demands. Further topics were formation and morphology of aerobic granular sludge, modelling and use of the aerobic granular sludge in practice.

Selective Imaging of Biofilms in Porous Media by NMR Relaxation

Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 1999

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) techniques were employed to identify and selectively image biological films (biofilm) growing in aqueous systems. Biofilms are shown to affect both the longitudinal (T 1) and transverse (T 2) NMR relaxation time values of proximal water hydrogens. Results are shown for biofilm growth experiments performed in a transparent parallelplate reactor. A comparison of biofilm distributions by both NMR and optical imaging yielded general agreement for both an openflow system and an idealized porous system (the reactor without and with packed glass beads, respectively). The selective imaging of biofilm by relaxation NMRI is dependent upon the resolution of relaxation times for the fluid phases, dynamic range, and signalto-noise ratio. For open-flow systems, the use of a rapid and quantitative T 2-sorted NMRI technique was preferred. For porous systems where T 2 values are generally more similar, a T 1-weighted technique was preferred.

Aerobic granular sludge: Recent advances

2008

Aerobic granulation, a novel environmental biotechnological process, was increasingly drawing interest of researchers engaging in work in the area of biological wastewater treatment. Developed about one decade ago, it was exciting research work that explored beyond the limits of aerobic wastewater treatment such as treatment of high strength organic wastewaters, bioremediation of toxic aromatic pollutants including phenol, toluene, pyridine and textile dyes, removal of nitrogen, phosphate, sulphate and nuclear waste and adsorption of heavy metals. Despite this intensive research the mechanisms responsible for aerobic granulation and the strategy to expedite the formation of granular sludge, and effects of different operational and environmental factors have not yet been clearly described. This paper provides an up-to-date review on recent research development in aerobic biogranulation technology and applications in treating toxic industrial and municipal wastewaters. Factors affecting granulation, granule characterization, granulation hypotheses, effects of different operational parameters on aerobic granulation, response of aerobic granules to different environmental conditions, their applications in bioremediations, and possible future trends were delineated. The review attempts to shed light on the fundamental understanding in aerobic granulation by newly employed confocal laser scanning microscopic techniques and microscopic observations of granules.

3D biofilm visualization and quantification on granular bioanodes with magnetic resonance imaging

Water Research, 2019

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Aerobic granular sludge: characterization, mechanism of granulation and application to wastewater treatment

Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 2011

Aerobic granular sludge can be classified as a type of self-immobilized microbial consortium, consisting mainly of aerobic and facultative bacteria and is distinct from anaerobic granular methanogenic sludge. Aerobic granular technology has been proposed as a promising technology for wastewater treatment, but is not yet established as a large-scale application. Aerobic granules have been cultured mainly in sequenced batch reactors (SBR) under hydraulic selection pressure. The factors influencing aerobic granulation, granulation mechanisms, microbial communities and the potential applications for the treatment of various wastewaters have been studied comprehensively on the laboratory-scale. Aerobic granular sludge has shown a potential for nitrogen removal, but is less competitive for the high strength organic wastewater treatments. This technology has been developed from the laboratory-scale to pilot scale applications, but with limited and unpublished full-scale applications for municipal wastewater treatment. The future needs and limitations for aerobic granular technology are discussed.

Quantitative image analysis as a diagnostic tool for identifying structural changes during a revival process of anaerobic granular sludge

Water Research, 2007

Specific methanogenic activity Structural changes of anaerobic granular sludge a b s t r a c t Due to unspecified operational problems, the specific acetoclastic activity (SAA) of the anaerobic granular sludge present in an industrial UASB reactor was considerably damaged (from 250 to less than 10 mL CH 4 @STP/gVSS.d), significantly reducing the biogas production of that industrial unit. The hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity exhibited a value of 600 mL CH4@STP/gVSS.d, the settling velocity was 31.479.8 m/h, the average equivalent diameter was 0.9270.43 mm, and about 70% of the VSS were structured in aggregates larger than 1 mm.