The potential of 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) addition to an activated sludge continuous process to reduce excess sludge production by disrupting coupling between anabolism and catabolism was investigated. TCS was chosen as a metabolic uncoupler for continuous test in a lab-scale completely mixed activated sludge process. TCS reduced sludge yield by approximately 30% at a dosage of 40 mg/day. Substrate removal capability was not adversely affected by the presence of TCS, but effluent nitrogen concentration increased during the 60-day continuous operation. Sludge settleability of treated and control samples was qualitatively comparable and not significantly different. Microbial activities in terms of specific oxygen uptake rate were also enhanced, and the microbial population was altered. The results suggest that TCS is an effective chemical uncoupler that reduces sludge yield; process performance was not significantly affected by introduction of the uncoupler.
The effects of three uncoupled metabolic systems (conventional activated sludge process with the addition of 3,3', 4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide [TCS], oxic-settling-anaerobic [OSA] process modified by insertion of a sludge-holding tank in the sludge return line, and TCS and OSA combined process) on reducing excess sludge production were studied. Compared with the control conventional activated sludge process, the most effective system was the combined process, which could reduce excess sludge production by 46.90%. The 180-d operation results confirmed that TCS is an effective chemical uncoupler in reducing the sludge yield but that it had an adverse effect on substrate removal capability, effluent nitrogen concentration, and sludge settleability. The OSA process decreased excess sludge production by only 26% but had less adverse effect on effluent quality and could improve sludge settleability. The effluent total phosphorous concentration of the three systems was slightly lower than of the control unit. Microbial populations were monitored by both microscopic and molecular biologic analysis method (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [DGGE]). The presence of TCS caused metazoans to disappear and decreased the number and activity of protozoa. PCR amplification of 16S rRNA and sequent DGGE analysis found a shift in the diversity of the predominant species. The results imply that OSA combined with the chemical uncoupler process may effectively reduce excess sludge yield and not affect process performance significantly.
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