Effect of nitrogen loading rate on stability of aerobic granular sludge in continuous flow
The denitrification performance and stability of aerobic granular sludge(AGS)treatment on inorganic wastewater with high ammonia nitrogen in a continuous flow reactor were investigated.The reactor was started by seeding with mature AGS.It was observed that the influent nitrogen loading rate was gradually increased from 1.0 kg/(m3·d)to 4.0 kg/(m3·d)in the first 55 d,gradually decreased to 1.4 kg/(m3·d)from 56~125 d,and then increased to 2.0 kg/(m3·d)again in 126~145 d.Obvious particle breakage and sludge loss were observed,and the average particle size decreased continuously in the first 75 d.Although the seed sludge was supplemented several times to maintain the stability of the system,the sludge volume index(SVI),extracellular polymeric substance(EPS)and specific oxygen uptake rate(SOUR)of the granules fluctuated sharply in the first 80 d.The reactor was then idled in place from 91~109 d,and the physical and chemical indexes of AGS gradually became stable when the system was re-started.The removal efficiency of NH4+-N gradually increased to more than 98%in the first 45 d,rapidly decreased to approximately 50%in 46~75 d,and then rose to>99%again.The total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiency was basically maintained between 35%and 45%.The effect of the continuous flow reactor on the selective screening of sludge was investigated,and the changes in the composition of sludge microflora were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing.The results showed that when the depth of the baffle in the sedimentation tank was 27 cm,the sludge retention rate of the reactor was above 98%,and the particle size of effluent sludge was mostly 0~0.30 mm.Compared with those of the seed AGS,the relative abundance of nitrifying bacterial genus(Nitrosomonas)in AGS on 145 d increased significantly,while the relative abundance of denitrifying bacterial genera(such as unclassified_Bacteria,Thauera and Thauera)decreased slightly.