Dimethylsulfoxidreduktase-Aktivität Charakterisierung der mikrobiellen Biomasseaktivität im Schlamm einer belüfteten Abwasserteichanlage

Dimethyl Sulfoxide Reduction Method for the Characterization of Biomass Activity in Sludge of an Aerated Lagoon The microbial biomass activity was studied in sludge from a wastewater lagoon (Hatzbachtal) which consisted of 4 aerated ponds and one polishing pond. The lagoon was characterized by low BOD₅ loading and high dilution because of water from the surroundings. Sludge samples were taken from 4 sampling sites of each aerated pond and from one site of the polishing pond. The biomass activity in the sludge samples was analysed with the help of dimethyl sulfoxide reductase (DRA) and dehydrogenase (DHA) activity. In addition, C_org-content was also determined. The effect of different reaction parameters on the DRA was studied in relation to incubation period, temperature and atmosphere as well as sludge weight and pH value. The results presented here show that a linear increase in the DRA occured for the sludge weight ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 g, incubation period from 0.5 to 11 h and incubation temperature from 20 to 50 °C. The pH spectrum from acidic to neutral did not effect the DMS formation in sludge. Although the values for DRA were always higher in anaerobic incubation of sludge than in aerobic incubation, the courses of the DRA in both conditions were parallel. Comparing the biomass activity in sludge from different sampling sites of the aerated ponds, the average C_org-content was found to be reflected by the DRA and DHA. Further, the variation in the DRA could represent also the influence of oxygen concentration. Therefore, a reduction in biomass activities indicated a decline in the availability of oxygen.     

Toxicity-directed Fractionation of Tannery Wastewater Using Solid-phase Extraction and Luminescence Inhibition in Microtiter Plates

A four-step solid-phase extraction (SPE) method is presented for toxicity-directed fractionation of industrial wastewater. This fractionation procedure serves as a key step for identifying unknown organic toxicants in complex samples. Toxicity was determined as luminescence inhibition of Vibrio fischeri using microtiter plates. This method was compared to standard tests in glass cuvettes using both 37 standard chemicals and 24 wastewater fractions with EC₅₀ values covering five orders of magnitude. Results of both methods correlated well. 22 tannery wastewater samples were sequentially extracted using C₁₈e and polystyrene-divinylbenzene phases in combination with pH-changes. Final solid-phase filtrates showed low inhibition, so toxicity of inorganics could be neglected. Using 1/EC₅₀ values, the SPE eluates showed clearly different toxicity patterns. Even in eluates of the fourth extraction step, high toxic effects could be observed. In several cases, luminescence inhibition was increasing at the anaerobic treatment step compared to the corresponding untreated samples. After aerobic treatment, toxicity of most wastewater fractions was greatly diminished. HPLC/DAD analyses of the wastewater fractions showed a fair separation concerning compound polarity. However, the samples were still too complex to identify single compounds responsible for the detected toxicity. Therefore, a further clean-up step accompanied with toxicity testing is needed.     

Kurzzeitermittlung der Ablaufqualität von Belebtschlammanlagen anhand der Atmungsaktivität

For checking the quality of the effluent from an activated sludge plant for waste-waters from the sulphite pulp production the respiration of an activated sludge sample in air-saturated water is determined initially without the addition of substrate (ground respiration) and after that with an addition of substrate (methanol, substrate respiration) by means of the Clark-electrode. The measuring device is designed by means of zero displacement in such a way that the difference of the oxygen concentration is indicated by a time relay as the difference quotient. Between the ground respiration and the effluent concentration of BOD₅ exists a significant positive regression, which can be used for controlling the plant. The determination of the substrate respiration serves only for checking with respect to perhaps given inhibition of the conversion of matter by the activated sludge. The determination of the activity of the activated sludge sample takes only 20 min; inclusive of the required determination of the dry matter of sludge, the technique provides a well reproducible measured value for the biochemical conversion in the activated sludge plant within 1… 1.5 h.     

Zur akuten Toxizität von Trichlorfon gegenüber ausgewählten Wasserorganismen

Two different formulations of Trichlorfon were examined for their acute toxicity in laboratory tests. Cyprinus carpio L., Salmo gairdneri Rich. and the fish food organisms Cyclops spec., Diaptomus spec. and Chironomus spec. were used as test objects. The differences in toxicity between crystalline and technical Trichlorfon were not very large. The recorded lethal concentrations are summarized in graphical representations and tables. After exposure for several hours to lower concentrations of active constituents, the toxicant-damaged fishes regained their original activity of life during a subsequent phase of recovery Tests of fish food organisms with 100 … 200 μg/l Trichlorfon led to death within 48 hours. Also on chironomid larvae Trichlorfon has a lethal effect at 0.2 mg/l within 48 hours. Toxicity is increased by the hardness constituents of the water. As experiments conducted with Crustacea have shown, growth is inhibited only at a certain concentration in the body.     

Eignung mikrobieller Biotests für gebundene Schadstoffe Suitability of Microbial Bioassays for Bound Contaminants

Toxicity of soil spiked with water soluble and insoluble contaminants was assessed with bacteria. Three bioassays were used with common soil bacteria. Water soluble fractions from the soils were estimated in microtiterplates via dehydrogenase activity of B. cereus and growth of P. putida. A new method was developed using B. cereus to include effects of soil particles with bound contaminants. As contaminants p-nitrophenol and 2-naphthol were tested in these systems. Results indicated that the concentration of the contaminants in the soil solution is determined by soil properties. Toxicity of water soluble fractions was not only a result of the toxicant's concentration but further modified by soluble components of the soils. It is not possible to assess soil pollution from toxicity of the water soluble fraction in general, because unknown factors of the soluble soil fraction can influence toxicity greatly. The newly developed contact bioassay with B. cereus showed clearly higher toxicity of 2-naphthol estimated in soil suspension than did the comparable test system with the same bacteria using water soluble fractions only. The results stress the importance of including soil particles into bioassay procedures. It was shown that also water insoluble, bound contaminants can act as toxicants. For an estimation of toxicity under conditions more relevant for the environment, the suggested test system can provide useful information to bioavailability of bound contaminants.     

Performance Evaluation of a Full‐Scale Extended Aeration System in Al‐Bireh City,Palestine

Major challenges attributed to dysfunctional wastewater treatment facilities in developing countries include lack of commitment and poor informed decision making by the higher municipal administration. This paper presents how process monitoring and control during full scale operation ensures sustainability of civic infrastructures like Al‐Bireh wastewater treatment plant (AWWTP). It is written from the perspective of practical process selection to evaluate the performance of AWWTP, a single‐sludge nitrification–denitrification process with aerobic sludge stabilization. Process monitoring data (July 2000–April 2007) from available monthly operating reports were analyzed and evaluated. Additional data on microbiological analysis and information about facility unit operations were gathered through review of published local literature and interviews with AWWTP personnel. Influent and effluent data evaluated were the chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Despite annual and seasonal variations in AWWTP influent for COD, BOD, TN, and TP, the Palestinian wastewater reuse requirements for restricted irrigation were met. Process design and proper facility operation have direct impacts on effluent quality. The study concludes that regardless of the design capacity and process type, adequate administrative and operational management dictate the sustainability of AWWTP and reuse schemes.     

Toxicity identification in metal plating effluent: implications in establishing effluent discharge limits using bioassays in Korea

Because of complexity and diversity of toxicants in effluent, chemical analysis alone gives very limited information on identifying toxic chemicals to test organisms. Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) techniques have been widely used to identify toxicants in various samples including industrial wastewater as well as natural waters. In response to new regulation for effluent discharge in Korea, which will be effective from 2011, a necessity of studies emerges that investigates toxicity levels in industrial effluents. This work was a preliminary study examining toxicity levels in effluent from one metal plating factory using Daphnia magna (48 h immobility) and identifying toxicity-causing substances. Toxicity tests showed variability on different sampling occasions and the results of TIE methods indicated that both organic compounds and metals contributed to the observed toxicity in metal plating effluent. Further studies are necessary to help reduce effluent toxicity especially from direct dischargers, who will have to comply with the new regulation.     

Belastung von Krankenhausabwasser mit gefährlichen Stoffen im Sinne § 7a WHG

Contamination of Hospital Wastewater with Hazardous Compounds as Defined by § 7a WHG In total, 45 samples of hospital wastewater obtained from different origins (total wastewater, nursing, and laboratories) were investigated using chemical analyses as well as biological testing methods. In parallel, the consumption of several product groups relevant to the wastewater has been calculated. The water consumption strongly influenced the quality of the corresponding wastewater. Most of the values of the chemical parameters determined were found within a range as would have been expected for municipal wastewater. The AOX concentrations were distinctly elevated (0.41 mg/L in total wastewater and 0.95 mg/L in nursing wastewater). As could be shown by the calculated consumption of different compounds, the iodoferous X-ray contrast media represented a predominant proportion of the total AOX load of the clinical wastewaters tested. The values of some of the total wastewater samples and the laboratory wastewater samples showed a high toxicity as determined using the daphnia and luminescent bacteria tests. Using Ames and hamster cell tests, 5 out of 23 samples in the clinical area and 7 out of 9 samples from the laboratories turned out to be mutagenic. The origin of this mutagenic potential could not be determined though.     

Effect of Saline Sludge on Anaerobic Digestion of Kitchen Waste for Methane Generation: Modeling and Fertilizer Recovery

A comparative study of methane recovery by co-digesting kitchen waste and saline sewage sludge is performed to evaluate its feasibility for waste minimization. The experiment is performed at 37 °C having a mixing speed of 100 rpm and pH of 6.49–7.5 in anaerobic mixed batch reactors. The higher salinity level of the saline sewage sludge reduces the degradation rate of kitchen waste causing an enhancement in soluble chemical oxygen demand by 133% compared with 280% when co-digesting with the non-saline sample. The inhibitory behavior is in line with the low volatile solid elimination efficiency of 31% of saline against 55% of non-saline sludge. The Gompertz modeling, based on the outcomes, fits the cumulative methane generation trends quite well, with a strong correlation coefficient (>0.994). Besides, use of the non-saline sludge results in three times more methane production than the saline sample digestion. Sludge recovery is 0.07 m³ sludge m⁻³ wastewater, and water recovery is 0.84 m³ m⁻³ wastewater. The liquid produced from the fermentation of the slurry can be used for irrigation as well as fertilization. Kitchen waste co-digestion with both sludge samples has been proven to be a practical method for exploiting the extra digestion capacity of wastewater treatment plants currently in operation, but it is more practical for non-saline sludge.     

Toxicity identification in metal plating effluent: Implications in establishing effluent discharge limits using bioassays in Korea

Because of complexity and diversity of toxicants in effluent, chemical analysis alone gives very limited information on identifying toxic chemicals to test organisms. Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) techniques have been widely used to identify toxicants in various samples including industrial wastewater as well as natural waters. In response to new regulation for effluent discharge in Korea, which will be effective from 2011, a necessity of studies emerges that investigates toxicity levels in industrial effluents. This work was a preliminary study examining toxicity levels in effluent from one metal plating factory using Daphnia magna (48 h immobility) and identifying toxicity-causing substances. Toxicity tests showed variability on different sampling occasions and the results of TIE methods indicated that both organic compounds and metals contributed to the observed toxicity in metal plating effluent. Further studies are necessary to help reduce effluent toxicity especially from direct dischargers, who will have to comply with the new regulation.     

Issues in sediment toxicity and ecological risk assessment

This paper is based on a facilitated Workshop and Roundtable Discussion of key issues in sediment toxicology and ecological risk assessment (ERA) as applied to sediments that was held at the Conference on Dredged Material Management: Options and Environmental Considerations. The issues addressed included how toxicity is defined and perceived, how it is measured, and how it should be used within the context of ERA to support management decisions. The following conclusions were reached regarding scientific considerations of these issues. Toxicity is a measure of hazard and not a risk per se. Thus, toxicity testing is a means but not the end to understand risks of sediments. Toxicity testing cannot presently be replaced by chemical analyses to define hazard. Toxicity test organisms need to be appropriate to the problem being addressed, and the results put into context relative to both reference and baseline comparisons to understand hazard. Use of toxicity tests in sediment ERAs requires appropriate endpoints and risk hypotheses, considering ecological not just statistical significance, and recognizing that hazard does not equate to risk. Toxicity should be linked to population and community response to support decision-making, assessing possible genotypic adaptations that can influence risk estimates, and addressing uncertainty. Additionally, several key scientific issues were identified to improve future sediment ERAs, including the need to improve basic understanding of ecological mechanisms and processes, recognition of variability in the assessment process, and an improved focus and ability to assess risks to populations and communities.     

Optimierung des Belebungsverfahrens durch Minimierung des Volumens von Belebungs- und Nachklärbecken

The separate examination of the processes of the settling and thickening of activated sludge allows us to minimize the volumes of aeration tanks and final clarification tanks. The following initial quantities are given: wastewater quantity, inflow and outflow concentrations of BOD₅, wastewater temperature and reflux ratio of activated sludge and, in addition, three parameters of the thickening behaviour of activated sludge as well as a parameter for the bioactivity of sludge, which are to be determined in an experimental plant. From this, the optimum concentration of the activated sludge in the aeration tank is calculated at which the total of volumes for aeration tank and final clarification tank becomes a minimum. The process is carried out numerically by an example.     

Treatment of Malting Wastewater in a Granular Sludge Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)

Aerobic granular sludge was successfully cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating wastewater from the malting process with a high content of particulate organic matter. At an organic loading rate of 3.2 kg/(m³ d) COD_total and an influent particle concentration of 0.95 g/L MLSS an average removal of 50% in COD_total and 80% in COD_dissolved could be achieved. A comparison of granular and flocculent sludge grown under the same operating conditions showed no significant difference in removal efficiency although granules exhibited a higher metabolic activity in terms of specific oxygen uptake rate (r_{O2, X}). Two distinct mechanisms of particle removal were observed for granular sludge: during initial granule formation, particles were incorporated into the biofilm matrix. For mature granules, a high level of protozoa growth on the granule surface accounted for the ability to remove particulate COD. Combined evaluation of the development in MLSS content and sludge bed settling rate (i.e., mean derivative of the normalized sludge volume) was found to be an adequate method for monitoring the characteristic settling properties of a granulizing sludge bed. By means of this method, a distinct substrate gradient out of several operating conditions was concluded to have the biggest impact on the formation of aerobic granular sludge.     

Neue Wege in die Ökotoxikologie: Quantitative Verhaltensmessungen an Fischen als Toxizitätsendpunkt

New Ways to Ecotoxicology: Quantitative Recording of Behaviour of Fish as Toxicity Endpoint The BehavioQuant system will be introduced which uses the integrative whole-organism response by automatized recording and quantifying the spontaneous behaviour of fish and other test organisms. While moving unrestricted within the test chamber, the movements of each single fish are recorded by video imaging, and their traces are digitized numerically by x-/y-coordinates. From the object traces several test parameters are calculated which give information about behavioural changes of the observed fishes. These various parameters are: the average swimming velocity (motility), the average swimming depth below surface, the inconstancy of motility, the frequency of turns, the standard frequency distributions of vertical and horizontal positions (can be used for quantification of a preference for dark or light habitats), and the distance behaviour. A continuously monitoring of up to 16 aquaria is possible. The statistic comparison between treated groups and control groups is done for each test parameter separately. The automatical evaluation of the continuous observation of surface waters results from a comparison of the actual behaviour data to the data of a reference period. Some examples for the applications of the BehavioQuant system will be demonstrated (effects of atrazine), and their results will be discussed. Behavioural changes of a single species can finally cause changes in biocenotic structures and functions. Therefore, it is necessary to include the results of quantitative behaviour measurements in ecotoxicological hazard assessment.     

Behavior of Steroid Hormones and Conjugates During Wastewater Treatment – A Comparison of Three Sewage Treatment Plants

The fate of the steroid hormones 17 β‐estradiol, estrone, estriol, 16 α‐hydroxyestrone, and β‐estradiol 17‐acetate, the hormone‐conjugates β‐estradiol 3‐sulfate and estrone 3‐sulfate, and the oral contraceptives 17 α‐ethinylestradiol and mestranol were studied during wastewater treatment as wastewater treatment plants are the major source contamination of urban surface waters with steroid hormones. The elimination efficiencies of three different concepts of WWTPs, i. e., activated sludge versus trickling filter, were compared over four weeks at different weather conditions. While larger WWTPs operating on activated sludge eliminated hormones more constantly than smaller WWTPs, heavy rainfall events led to a collapse of the elimination efficiency. By using trickling filter techniques for the treatment of wastewater an elimination of the steroid hormones could not be observed. Additionally, mass flows on a per person basis are compared. In the three experiments, which ran continuously for four weeks each, it turned out that the concentrations of ethinylestradiol and mestranol were below 6 ng/L in all samples. The inflow concentrations were 70 to 82 ng/L (estrone), 17 to 44 ng/L (estradiol), 61 to 130 ng/L (hydroxyestrone), 189 to 255 ng/L (estriol), 10 to 17 ng/L (estrone‐3‐sulfate) and about 28 ng/L (estradiol‐3‐ sulfate). While in the activated sludge treatment plants the elimination of estrone was 90 and 50%, respectively, estrone was formed from precursors in the trickling filter plant. A similar situation occurred for 17β‐estradiol, estrone 3‐sulfate, and estradiol 3‐sulfate. Hydroxyestrone was eliminated with similar efficiencies in all wastewater treatment plants (64 to 82%), as well as estriol (34 to 69%). Accordingly, the emissions of the wastewater treatment plants differed largely and were not attributed to the size of the respective plant, only.     

Laboratory tests as a basis for the control of sewage sludge dumping at sea

Toxicity and bioaccumulation studies were carried out on a number of UK sewage sludges to determine whether laboratory experiments could be used to regulate sludge dumping at sea. Whilst the acute toxicity of sewage sludges to adult marine organisms was generally low, shrimp larvae were found to be up to 500 times more sensitive than adults of the same species. No significant bioaccumulation of mercury or cadmium could be detected following up to 60 days exposure of fish, shrimps and mussels to the most heavily contaminated sludges available, although there was some uptake of lead, zinc and copper.     

Scum in Activated Sludge Plants: Impact of Non‐filamentous and Filamentous Bacteria

Excessive scum production is a widespread phenomenon in present activated sludge wastewater treatment. The question how foaming is initiated and stabilized is still unanswered. Hydrophobic wastewater ingredients and surface active material such as synthetic surfactants are discussed among others as major causative agents for scum production. Focusing on biological impacts non‐filamentous bacteria isolated from scum turned out to contribute to flotation by both cell surface hydrophobicity and emulsification activity, depending on the prevailing substrate and milieu conditions. The biological characterization of scum based on microscopic sludge investigation of conspicuous microorganisms resulted in a significant shift of filamentous and non‐filamentous organism populations with Gram‐positive bacteria prevailing in present nutrient removal plants as compared to the situation ten years ago. Their hydrophobic cell surface is supposed to support adherence and stabilization of interfaces and thus promote sludge flotation. In scum six types of filamentous bacteria turned out to be numerous: Microthrix parvicella and nocardioform actinomycetes, both of them being enriched in the scum fraction, moreover Nostocoida limicola and Eikelboom types 0041/0675, 1851, and 0092. Possible interactive mechanisms between non‐filamentous and filamentous scum bacteria and their selection factors are discussed in order to contribute to a better understanding of scum formation and to provide efficient troubleshooting measures.     

Untersuchung des biologischen Abbaus von polycyclischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen in einer Labor-Kläranlage

Study of the Biological Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Laboratory-scale Plant A one-stage laboratory-scale wastewater treatment plant composed of a bubble column reactor with sedimentor and sludge recycle is fed with an oil/water emulsion from a contaminated site. The oil phase is highly contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The samples are taken regularly at defined points of the treatment plant (influent, reactor, return sludge, effluent). The analysis of PAH is performed by HPLC. We can show that all analysed PAH including the poorly degradable carcinogenic substances such as benzo[a]pyrene are biologically transformed. Additional measurements of the toxic and mutagenic potential of the wastewater show that in the laboratory-scale plant full removal of the carcinogenic potential is not achieved. This is due to the fact that during the biological transformation of higher condensated PAH mutagenic dead-end metabolites are produced.     

The Influence of the Concentration of Dissolved Oxygen on the Determination of the Dehydrogenase Activity of Activated Sludge Using the Method of TTC Test

Due to its oxidation-reduction potential, oxygen occurs in the TTC test for the determination of the dehydrogenase activity as a competitive hydrogen acceptor. At different oxygen concentrations in the solution to be tested and also at varying rates of oxygen depletion, e.g. in activated sludge samples, thus the formazan formation from TTC shows differences. Under similar anaerobic conditions, the test results of the dehydrogenase activity are higher in most cases and show a smaller range of variation than under aerobic conditions. The importance of the oxygen concentration is demonstrated in investigations with activated sludge, anaerobic conditions being set by addition of Na₂SO₃.     

Vergleich ausgewählter Elutionsverfahren zur Beurteilung der Mobilität von Metallen

Comparison of Selected Elution Procedures for the Valuation of the Mobility of Metals from Sediment and Sewage Sludge Several methods of extraction are generally used to evaluate environmental or ecological toxicity and deposition of waste material. In this paper, the application of the German standard methods DIN 38414-S7, DIN 38414-S4, pH_stat method, “Schweizer method” (elution test, Switzerland), and some variants of the pH_stat method on two very different samples are described. A rudimental sediment and a municipal sewage sludge are chosen as sample materials. The metal contents of extract solutions are determined by ICP-OES. The results of the DIN-S4 extractions depend definitely on the mechanic way of movement, i.e. the amount of heavy metals which are mobilized out of the samples differs considerably. In fact, DIN-S7 in combination with DIN-S4 is not sufficient to estimate the mobility of heavy metals. Solid samples should only be evaluated by applying a combination of several methods of extraction. The usefulness of the pH_stat method for an evaluation is discussed.