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<p>Hammarby Sjöstad is a new district of southern Stockholm built with focus on reduced environmental impact by recirculation of materials and sustainability. The environmental goals aim to cut the water consumption by half and a separate storm water treatment. Thus, the wastewater will be more concentrated and will originate from the households only. The Sjöstad project includes the idea of a local treatment plant for the household wastewater. To evaluate this possibility, Sjöstadsverket, an experimental treatment plant was constructed. New wastewater treatment processes are tested and evaluated and compared to conventional methods including both aerobic and anaerobic treatment processes.</p><p>One of the aerobic treatment processes includes enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR or Bio-P) as the method for the removal of phosphorus. In biological phosphorus removal the wastewater is alternately being exposed to anaerobic and aerobic conditions, which favours a certain bacteria, which can accumulate more phosphorus than is required for their growth. For this phosphorus accumulation the bacteria need volatile fatty acids (VFA) to cover their energy demand, but normally there is a shortage in VFA in the incoming wastewater.</p><p>The main purpose of this master thesis work has been to create the best possible conditions in order to produce VFA by hydrolysis and fermentation of primary sludge. In this way the organic material in the incoming wastewater can be used in biological phosphorus removal.</p><p>The sludge temperature, total solids (TS) and retention time are regarded as important parameters for a successful biological phosphorus removal and a laboratory study was set up to investigate these conditions for the wastewater at the Hammarby Sjöstad experimental plant. These laboratory-scale hydrolysis experiments showed that high temperature and high TS favours VFA-production. The results have also shown that four to five days retention time is suitable at a process temperature higher than 23°C, but also that the retention time likely should be extended at lower temperatures.</p><p>In a full-scale process experiment, primary sludge was pumped from a primary clarifier to a hydrolysis tank and then back to the primary clarifier. The hydrolysis gave rise to increased VFA-production when TS was increased. A temperature difference between the primary sludge and the hydrolysis sludge of 3°C was observed. The reason behind the difference has not been determined, but is considered important, since the temperature affects the VFA-production. Further on, analyses with gas chromatograph (GC) have shown that acetate has been the most frequently occurring VFA, although significant levels of other VFA, such as propionate, has also been detected.</p><p>Phosphorus release tests in laboratory-scale, where phosphorus was released during an anaerobic phase and taken up during an aerobic phase, proved that biological phosphorus removal occurred at the full-scale experimental train.</p><p>The full-scale hydrolysis experiment has shown that the VFA contribution by the hydrolysis tank to the biological phosphorus removal was low. The main reason is that the sludge-flow through the hydrolysis tank has been insignificant compared to the incoming wastewater flow. The problem is most likely connected to the incoming wastewater characteristics, since the low share of suspended solids (SS) entailed that not enough organic material in the primary clarifier settled.</p> / I figur 57 på sidan 76 stämmer inte trendlinjernas ekvationer i den tryckta versionen. Dessa är nu korrigerade i den elektroniska versionen, så att rätt ekvationer finns i den aktuella figuren.

Hammarby Sjöstad is a new district of southern Stockholm built with focus on reduced environmental impact by recirculation of materials and sustainability. The environmental goals aim to cut the water consumption by half and a separate storm water treatment. Thus, the wastewater will be more concentrated and will originate from the households only. The Sjöstad project includes the idea of a local treatment plant for the household wastewater. To evaluate this possibility, Sjöstadsverket, an experimental treatment plant was constructed. New wastewater treatment processes are tested and evaluated and compared to conventional methods including both aerobic and anaerobic treatment processes. One of the aerobic treatment processes includes enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR or Bio-P) as the method for the removal of phosphorus. In biological phosphorus removal the wastewater is alternately being exposed to anaerobic and aerobic conditions, which favours a certain bacteria, which can accumulate more phosphorus than is required for their growth. For this phosphorus accumulation the bacteria need volatile fatty acids (VFA) to cover their energy demand, but normally there is a shortage in VFA in the incoming wastewater. The main purpose of this master thesis work has been to create the best possible conditions in order to produce VFA by hydrolysis and fermentation of primary sludge. In this way the organic material in the incoming wastewater can be used in biological phosphorus removal. The sludge temperature, total solids (TS) and retention time are regarded as important parameters for a successful biological phosphorus removal and a laboratory study was set up to investigate these conditions for the wastewater at the Hammarby Sjöstad experimental plant. These laboratory-scale hydrolysis experiments showed that high temperature and high TS favours VFA-production. The results have also shown that four to five days retention time is suitable at a process temperature higher than 23°C, but also that the retention time likely should be extended at lower temperatures. In a full-scale process experiment, primary sludge was pumped from a primary clarifier to a hydrolysis tank and then back to the primary clarifier. The hydrolysis gave rise to increased VFA-production when TS was increased. A temperature difference between the primary sludge and the hydrolysis sludge of 3°C was observed. The reason behind the difference has not been determined, but is considered important, since the temperature affects the VFA-production. Further on, analyses with gas chromatograph (GC) have shown that acetate has been the most frequently occurring VFA, although significant levels of other VFA, such as propionate, has also been detected. Phosphorus release tests in laboratory-scale, where phosphorus was released during an anaerobic phase and taken up during an aerobic phase, proved that biological phosphorus removal occurred at the full-scale experimental train. The full-scale hydrolysis experiment has shown that the VFA contribution by the hydrolysis tank to the biological phosphorus removal was low. The main reason is that the sludge-flow through the hydrolysis tank has been insignificant compared to the incoming wastewater flow. The problem is most likely connected to the incoming wastewater characteristics, since the low share of suspended solids (SS) entailed that not enough organic material in the primary clarifier settled. / I figur 57 på sidan 76 stämmer inte trendlinjernas ekvationer i den tryckta versionen. Dessa är nu korrigerade i den elektroniska versionen, så att rätt ekvationer finns i den aktuella figuren.

abstract: Microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs) serve as an alternative anaerobic technology to anaerobic digestion for efficient energy recovery from high-strength organic wastes such as primary sludge (PS). The overarching goal of my research was to address energy conversion from PS to useful resources (e.g. hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide) through bio- and electro-chemical anaerobic conversion processes in MXCs. First, a new flat-pate microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) was designed with high surface area anodes using carbon fibers, but without creating a large distance between the anode and the cathode (<0.5 cm) to reduce Ohmic overpotential. Through the improved design, operation, and electrochemical characterization, the applied voltages were reduced from 1.1 to ~0.85 V, at 10 A m-2. Second, PS conversion was examined through hydrolysis, fermentation, methanogenesis, and/or anode respiration. Since pretreatment often is required to accelerate hydrolysis of organic solids, I evaluated pulsed electric field technology on PS showing a modest improvement of energy conversion through methanogenesis and fermentation, as compared to the conversion from waste activated sludge (WAS) or WAS+PS. Then, a two-stage system (prefermented PS-fed MEC) yielded successful performance in terms of Coulombic efficiency (95%), Coulombic recovery (CR, 80%), and COD-removal efficiency (85%). However, overall PS conversion to electrical current (or CR) through pre-fermentation and MEC, was just ~16%. Next, a single-stage system (direct PS-fed MEC) with semi-continuous operation showed 34% CR at a 9-day hydraulic retention time. The PS-fed MEC also showed an important pH dependency, in which high pH (> 8) in the anode chamber improved anode respiration along with methanogen inhibition. Finally, H2O2 was produced in a PS-fed microbial electrochemical cell with a low energy requirement (~0.87 kWh per kg H2O2). These research developments will provide groundbreaking knowledge for MXC design, commercial application, and anaerobic energy conversion from other high-strength organic wastes to resources. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil and Environmental Engineering 2016

The production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from waste stream is gaining high attention because of their high market value and wide range of applications. In this study, the production of VFA from co-fermentation of primary sludge from wastewater treatment plant and food waste without pH control was evaluated using a pilot-scale reactor in a semi-continuous mode of operation. In addition, the influence of substrate and inoculum on VFA production and composition was assessed using a batch fermentation experiment. The pilot-scale reactor was operated at a retention time of 7 days and 10 days in phase 1 (126 days) and phase 2 (25 days) respectively. A maximum VFA production of (687 mg COD/g VS) was obtained when the pilot-scale reactor was operated at a retention time of 7 days on day 107. The change in retention time from 7 to 10 days led to a higher hydrolysis rate; however, no improvement in VFA production was observed. The most abundant VFA produced after the reactor stabilized was caproic acid (50 %), followed by acetic acid (23%) and butyric acid (20%). Higher amount ammonium nitrogen (1.3 to 14.32 mg/g VS) compared to soluble phosphorus (0.69 to 7 mg/g VS) was released during the co-fermentation process. Furthermore, the loss of the VFA due to the production of methane was highly reduced because the pH of the reactor adjusted by itself in the range of (5 – 5.7). The batch fermentation experiment revealed that VFA production without pH control is highly influenced by the type of substrate and inoculum used. While the distribution of VFAs, is highly influenced by the inoculum type compared to the substrate used. Finding from this study indicates that there is a potential to produce VFA from co-fermentation of primary sludge and food waste without pH control. / Lättflyktiga fettsyror (VFA; eng. Volatile Fatty Acids) är viktiga byggstenar för produktionen av en mängd kommersiellt viktiga kemikalier. VFA produceras för närvarande från icke-förnybara petrokemiska källor, som kan orsaka miljöproblem på grund av utsläpp av växthusgaser. VFA kan också produceras som en mellanprodukt vid den anaeroba nedbrytningsprocessen. Produktionen av VFA från avfallsströmmar har i nuläget fått stort intresse på grund av dess höga marknadsvärde och breda applikationsområde jämfört med biogas. Det mesta av forskningen som hittills genomförts har dock baserats på justeringen av pH genom tillsatts av HCl eller NaOH. Denna metod har dock mindre storskalig praktisk användning på grund av hög konsumtion av kemikalier. I denna studie undersöktes produktionen av VFA från samjäsning av primärslam och matavfall utan pH-kontroll med hjälp av en pilotskalereaktor i ett semikontinuerligt driftläge. Dessutom mättes den påverkan substrat och inokulum hade på produktion och av VFA genom batchjäsningsexperiment. Pilotskalereaktorn drevs med uppehållstid på 7 dagar respektive 10 dagar i fas 1 (126 dagar) och fas 2 (25 dagar). Maximal VFA produktion (på 687 mg COD/g VS) uppnåddes på dag 107, när pilotreaktorn hade en uppehållstid på 7 dagar. Ändringen i uppehållstid från 7 till 10 dagar ledde till en högre hydrolystakt; dock observerades ingen förbättring i VFA-produktion. Det vanligast förekommande VFA som produceras efter att reaktorn stabiliserades var caproinsyra (50%), följt av ättiksyra (23%) och smörsyra (20%). Högre mängd ammoniumkväve (1,3 till 14,32 mg/g VS) jämfört med löslig fosfor (0,69 till 7 mg/g VS) erhölls under samjäsningsprocessen. Förlusten av VFA på grund av produktion av metan minskade markant eftersom pH i reaktorn justerade sig själv i intervallet 5 – 5,7. Batchjäsningsexperiment genomfördes i 15 dagar med användning av endast primärslam, endast matavfall och en blandning av primärslam och matavfall. Två inokulum med ursprung från en anaerob rötkammare och dels från pilotskalereaktorn användes i experimentet. Resultaten visade att VFA-produktion utan pH kontroll påverkas betydligt av vilket slags substrat och inokulum som används. Sammansättning av VFA påverkas mer av vilket slags inokulum som användes jämfört med vilket substrat som används. Sammanfattningsvis visar resultatet av denna studie att det finns potential för att producera VFA genom samjäsning av primarslam och matavfall utan pH kontroll.

By rethinking wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as resource recovery facilities, it is possible to de- velop the next generation of WWTPs. Moreover, it allows to accomplish environmental goals, such as reducing the CO2 footprint, and comply with increasing effluent standards regarding the concentration of nitrogen in a more sustainable way. This research study aims to analyse the possibility of recirculating carbon within WWTPs in form of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) produced by co-fermentation of primary sludge and food waste. The obtained fermentation liquid is utilised as carbon source to enhance the denitrification process in a post-anoxic denitrification plant setup. Two pilot scale fermentation reactors were semi-continuously operated, systematically varying only in pH. By controlling one reactor to pH 10, while the second reactor was operated without pH control, it was possible to assess the influence of the pH on the carbon recovery process. Despite the pH not being controlled in the second fermentation reactor, it adjusted itself to a stable pH around 5.4. The co-fer- mentation process was monitored by weekly analysis of the SCOD and total amount of VFAs (TVFA). While the alkaline conditions in the reactor operated at pH 10 allowed a higher hydrolysis of the sub- strate, the second reactor, operated without pH control, achieved a more distinct acidification, due to the lower pH. Consequently, the SCOD in the reactor operated without pH control contains a higher percentage of TVFA amounting to 64 % in comparison to the reactor operated at pH 10 with 40 % TVFA. Furthermore, the achieved degree of fermentation was assessed by calculating the net increase of TVFA per gram of VS, respectively VSS. A higher degree of fermentation was achieved without pH control, resulting in a higher VFA yield compared to the fermentation reactor operated at pH 10. Moreover, anal- ysis of the individual VFAs by gas chromatography showed distinct differences in the composition of the fermentation liquids. According to the findings, the reactor operated at pH 10 produced mainly acetic acid (61 %), followed by propionic acid (18 %) and n-butyric acid (14 %). In contrast, the fermentation reactor operated without pH control produced mainly n-caproic acid (47 %), followed by acetic acid (25 %) and n-butyric acid (16 %). Despite the similar fermentation substrate supplied to both reactors, the acidic conditions in the reactor operated without pH control allowed carboxylic acid chain elongation from acetic acid to n-caproic acid, resulting in the main difference of the fermentation liquids. The fermentation liquid of the two reactors was filtered, diluted to a concentration of 5 g COD/L and supplied as additional carbon source to enhance denitrification in two continuously operated pilot scale moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR), applying a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 4.5. One of the denitrifica- tion MBBRs received the carbon recovered by fermentation at pH 10 as external carbon source, whereby the carbon source produced by fermentation without pH control was supplied to the other MBBR. The maximal achieved denitrification rate was quite similar for both MBBRs amounting to 3.25 g NO3- Neq/(m2·d) for the MBBR receiving the carbon source recovered by co-fermentation at pH 10 and 3.38 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) for the MBBR receiving the VFA-mix obtained by co-fermentation without pH control. However, the MBBR provided with the carbon source recovered by co-fermentation under acidic conditions achieved a higher average denitrification rate of 2.5 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d), compared with the MBBR receiving carbon produced by co-fermentation at pH 10 (1.8 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d)). The lower efficiency of the MBBR supplied with additional carbon recovered by fermentation at pH 10 is caused by an accumulation of NO2-N during the denitrification process. This accumulation of NO2-N indicates suboptimal conditions, both due to the composition of the supplied carbon source and an overall higher pH during the denitrification process, which might supress facultative anaerobes, such as denitrifiers. Nevertheless, this study shows that both VFA-rich carbon sources obtained by co-fermentation of pri- mary sludge and food waste are suitable to enhance denitrification of municipal wastewater, with the carbon source recovered by fermentation without pH control achieving a higher denitrification effi- ciency. / Eine Neuinterpretation kommunaler Klärwerke als Rohstoff-Rückgewinnungsanlagen ermöglicht die Entwicklung der Kläranlagen der Zukunft. Umweltziele, wie die Reduktion des CO2-Fußabdrucks und die Einhaltung steigender Abwasserstandards im Hinblick auf die Stickstoffkonzentration können somit nachhaltiger erreicht werden. Diese Forschungsstudie zielt darauf ab, die Möglichkeit der Rückführung von Kohlenstoff in Kläranlagen in Form leichtflüchtiger Fettsäuren (engl. volatile fatty acids, VFAs) zu untersuchen. Diese VFAs werden durch Co-Fermentation von Primärschlamm und Lebensmittelabfäl- len erzeugt und als zusätzliche Kohlenstoffquelle einer nachgeschalteten Denitrifikation zugeführt, um die Prozesseffizienz zu steigern. Zur Erzeugung der VFAs wurden zwei Fermentationsreaktoren halbkontinuierlich im Pilotmaßstab be- trieben, welche systematisch im pH-Wert variierten. Der Einfluss des pH-Wertes auf den Kohlenstoff- rückgewinnungsprozess konnte beurteilt werden, indem ein Reaktor auf pH 10 geregelt wurde, während dieser im zweiten Reaktor nicht beeinflusst wurde. In diesem stellte sich aufgrund ablaufender Reakti- onen ein stabiler pH-Wert um 5,4 ein. Der Co-Fermentationsprozess wurde durch wöchentliche Analyse des gelösten chemischen Sauerstoffbedarfs (engl. soluble chemical oxygen demand, SCOD) und der Ge- samtmenge an VFAs (TVFA) überwacht. Während die alkalischen Bedingungen in dem bei pH 10 be- triebenen Reaktor eine höhere Hydrolyse des Substrats ermöglichten, erreichte der zweite Reaktor auf- grund des niedrigeren pH-Werts eine stärkere Versäuerung. Folglich enthält der SCOD in dem Reaktor, der ohne pH-Regelung betrieben wurde, mit 64 % einen höheren Anteil an TVFA im Vergleich zu dem bei pH 10 betriebenen Reaktor mit 40 % TVFA. Außerdem wurde der erreichte Fermentationsgrad durch Berechnung der Nettozunahme der TVFA pro Gramm flüchtige Feststoffe (VS) bzw. flüchtige suspendierte Feststoffe (VSS) erfasst. Ein höherer Fer- mentationsgrad konnte ohne pH-Regelung erzielt werden, welche eine höhere VFA-Ausbeute im Ver- gleich zur Fermentation bei pH 10 zeigt. Deutliche Unterschiede in der Zusammensetzung der gewon- nenen VFAs konnten durch Analyse mittels Gaschromatographie erfasst werden. Demzufolge entstand bei der Fermentation bei pH 10 hauptsächlich Essigsäure (61 %), gefolgt von Propionsäure (18 %) und n-Buttersäure (14 %). Im Gegensatz dazu, produzierte der Fermentationsreaktor ohne pH-Regelung überwiegend n-Capronsäure (47 %), gefolgt von Essigsäure (25 %) und n-Buttersäure (16 %). Trotz des gleichen Fermentationssubstrates, welches beiden Reaktoren zugeführt wurde, ermöglichen die sauren Bedingungen in dem Fermentationsreaktor ohne pH-Regelung, eine Verlängerung der Carbonsäureket- ten von Essigsäure zu n-Capronsäure. Nach Filtration der in verschiedenen Milieus gewonnenen Fermentationssubstrate und Verdünnung auf eine Konzentration von 5 g COD/L, wurden diese zwei im Pilotmaßstab kontinuierlich betriebenen Fließbett-Biofilmreaktoren (engl. Moving bed biofilm reactor, MBBR) als zusätzliche Kohlenstoffquelle zur Denitrifikation zugeführt. Über die gesamte Versuchsdauer wurden ein MBBR mit dem alkalisch gewonnenen und der Andere mit dem im sauren Milieu erzeugten VFA-Mix betrieben. Das Kohlenstoff- Stickstoff-Verhältnis (C/N Ratio) lag dabei bei 4,5. Beide MBBRs wiesen eine vergleichbare maximale Denitrifikationsrate von 3,25 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) (VFAs pH 10) und 3,38 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) (VFAs pH un- geregelt) auf. Der MBBR, welcher die im sauren Milieu rückgewonnene Kohlenstoffquelle erhielt, er- reichte im Durchschnitt eine höhere Denitrifikationsrate von 2,5 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) als der MBBR, der den bei pH 10 gewonnenen VFA-Mix erhielt (1,8 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d)). Die im Vergleich geringere Effizi- enz der alkalisch rückgewonnenen Kohlenstoffquelle wird durch eine NO2-N-Anreicherung während der Denitrifikation verursacht, welche suboptimale Bedingungen während des Prozesses indiziert. Dies ist sowohl auf die Zusammensetzung der zugeführten Kohlenstoffquelle, als auch auf einen insgesamt hö- heren pH-Wert während des Reduktionsprozesses zurückzuführen, der fakultative Anaerobier, wie bspw. Denitrifikanten, unterdrücken kann. Dessen ungeachtet zeigt diese Studie, dass beide durch Co- Fermentation von Primärschlamm und Lebensmittelabfällen gewonnenen VFA-reichen Kohlenstoff- quellen zur Verbesserung der Denitrifikation kommunalen Abwassers geeignet sind, wobei die durch Fermentation ohne pH-Regelung erzeugte Kohlenstoffquelle eine höhere Effizienz aufweist. / Det är möjligt att utveckla den nya generationen av avloppsreningsverk genom att ompröva avloppsreningsverk som resursanläggning. Därtill möjliggör det att uppnå miljömål som att minska koldioxidavtrycket och följa ökande utsläppskrav, t.ex. för kvävekoncentration, på ett mer hållbart sätt. Denna forskningsstudie syftar till att analysera möjligheten att återcirkulera kol inom reningsverket i form av lättflyktiga fettsyror (engl. volatile fatty acids, VFAs), producerades genom samfermentering av primärslam och matavfall. Det erhållna fermenteringssubstratet används som extern kolkälla för att förbättra processeffektiviteten i en efterdenitrifikationsanläggning. Två pilotskaliga fermenteringsreaktorer drevs i semikontinuerligt driftläge med endast en skillnad i pH. Det var möjligt att utvärdera pH-påverkan på kolåtervinningsprocessen genom att kontrollera pH- värdet i en reaktor till pH 10, medan den andra reaktorn drevs utan pH-kontroll. På grund av reaktionerna som fortlöpte, justerade sig den icke-kontrollerade reaktorn själv till ett stabilt pH runt 5,4. Samfermenteringsprocessen övervakades genom veckoanalys av kemisk syreförbrukning i filtrerade prover (engl. soluble chemical oxygen demand, SCOD) och total mängd av VFAs (TVFA). Medan den alkaliska miljö i den första reaktorn gynnade en högre hydrolys av substratet, uppnådde den andra reaktorn en mer tydlig surgöring på grund av det lägre pH-värdet. Följaktligen innehåller SCOD i reaktorn som drivs utan pH-kontroll en större andel TVFA – 64 % av SCOD - jämfört med reaktorn som drivs vid pH 10, där TVFA utgör 40 % av SCOD. Vidare analyserades den uppnådda fermenteringsgraden genom att beräkna nettoökningen av TVFA per gram VS, respektive VSS. En högre jäsningsgrad uppnåddes i sur miljö, vilket resulterade i en högre VFA-produktion jämfört med fermenteringsreaktorn som drevs vid pH 10. Därtill visade analys med gaskromtografi av de individuella VFA tydliga skillnader i sammansättning av substraten. Enligt rönen producerade reaktorn vid pH 10 mestadels ättiksyra (61 %) följt av propionsyra (18 %) och n-smörsyra (14 %). Däremot producerade fermenteringsreaktorn utan pH-kontroll mestadels n-kapronsyra (47 %) följt av ättiksyra (25 %) och n-smörsyra (16 %). Detta visar att trots att samma fermentationssubstrat användes för båda reaktorerna möjliggör den sura miljön i reaktorn utan pH-kontroll karboxylkedjeförlängningen från ättiksyra till n-kapronsyra. Fermentationssubstraten av de två reaktorerna filtrerades, utspäddes till en koncentration av 5 g COD/L och tillfördes som extern kolkälla, med ett kol/kväve-förhållande på 4,5, för att förbättra denitrifikationen i två kontinuerliga drivna biofilmreaktorer med rörliga bärare (engl. moving bed biofilm reactor, MBBR). En MBBR erhöll under hela experimentets gång den kolkälla som bildats under alkaliska förhållanden och den andra MBBR:en erhöll motsvarande kolkälla som bildats i den sura miljön i fermenteringsreaktorn utan pH-kontroll. Den maximala uppnådda denitrifikationskapaciteten var ganska likartad för båda MBBR: 3,25 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) för den MBBR som opererades med den alkaliska erhållen kolkällan och 3,38 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) för MBBR som erhöll den utspädda fermenteringsvätskan bildad utan pH-kontroll. Emellertid uppnådde den MBBR som erhöll kolkällan bildad i sura miljön en högre genomsnittlig denitrifikationskapacitet på 2.5 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d) jämfört med MBBR som fick kolkällan producerad genom fermentering vid pH 10 (1.8 g NO3-Neq/(m2·d)). Den lägre effektiviteten i den MBBR som fick den alkaliskt erhållna kolkällan orsakas av en ansamling av NO2-N under denitrifikationsprocessen, vilket indikerar suboptimala förhållanden. Detta beror både på sammansättningen av den tillförda kolkällan och ett högre totalt pH-värde under reduktionsprocessen, vilket kan hämma fakultativa anaerober såsom denitrifierare. Trots det visar denna forskningsstudie att båda de VFA-rika kolkällorna erhållna genom samfermentering av primärslam och matavfall är lämpliga för att förbättra denitrifikationen av kommunalt avloppsvatten, varvid kolkällan som produceras genom fermentering utan pH-kontroll uppnår en högre denitrifikationseffektivitet.

Att rena vatten är kostsamt, från både en ekonomisk och miljömässig synpunkt, då behovet av fällningskemikalier, kolkällor och energi är stort. Det är därför önskvärt att titta på alternativa lösningar som möjliggör reningsverk att bli mer självförsörjande och kretsloppsanpassande. Hammarby Sjöstadverket är en pilotanläggning för avloppsvattenrening belägen i Stockholms sydöstra stadsdel i Henriksdal och ägs av IVL, Svenska Miljöinstitutet samt KTH. Sedan pilotanläggning byggdes år 2002, har flera olika reningstekniker utvärderats där fokus ligger på att sträva efter miljövänliga och kretsloppsanpassade system. Bland annat har en förfällningsteknik, så kallad trepunktsfällning utvärderats. Trepunktsfällningen innebär att ett metallsalt följt av två olika polymer tillsätts i flockningskammaren i inbördes ordning för att på så sätt kunna reducera en högre halt av det organiska materialet. Tidigare fällningsförsök på Hammarby Sjöstadsverket, har visat på att trepunktsfällningen kan avskilja det organiska materialet med upp till 90 %, vilket kan jämföras med en avskiljning på endast 75 % med vanlig förfällning. Detta examensarbete syftar till att validera redan framtagna resultat inom trepunktsfällning samt att genom biologisk hydrolys av primärslam, utvinna en kolkälla till efterdenitrifikationen innehållande så höga halter flyktiga fettsyror, Volatile Fatty Acids, (VFA) som möjligt samt undersöka kostnaderna för ett avloppsreningsverk med trepunktsfällning, biogasutvinning och uttag av intern kolkälla från primärslammet vid en uppskalning motsvarande 100 000 personekvivalenter. Fällningsförsöken utfördes i pilotskala med fällningskemikalien PAX XL-36 kombinerat med en lågmolekylär organisk polymer, Purfix-120, följt av en högmolekylär oorganisk polymer Superflock C-494. Syftet med trepunktsfällningen var att validera redan framtagna resultat inom trepunktsfällning och på så sätt avskilja så stora mänger organiskt material som möjligt i förfällningen så att ett primärslam innehållande en hög halt Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) erhålls. Två olika doseringar med PAX XL-36 testades, 145 respektive 193,5 g/m3. Bäst reduktion av COD och fosfor erhölls då 193 g/m3 PAX XL-36 kombinerades med 60 g/m3 Purfix-120 samt 0,025 g/m3 Superflock C-494. Då erhölls en COD-reduktion på 75 % samt en totalfosforreduktion på 83 %. Genom hydrolys av primärslam i laboratorieskala undersöktes torrsubstanshalter (TS-halter) på 1, 2 respektive 3 % och uppehållstider på upptill åtta dagar. Syftet med hydrolysen var i detta fall att undersöka vilken torrsubstanshalt samt vilken uppehållstid som gav högst produktion av VFA. Försöken visade att en TS-halt på 3 % producerade högst andel VFA och att produktionen av VFA för samtliga TS-halter var som störst under dygn två. VFA- och COD-produktionen ökade linjärt för samtliga TS-halter fram till och med dygn fem. Efter dygn fem började produktionen av VFA och COD för TS-halterna 1 och 2 % avta något. TS 3 % visade dock inte samma avtagande trend för VFA.  Även den dagliga ammoniumhalten och pH undersöktes. Ammoniumhalten ökade i takt med att VFA-halten ökade. pH hade generellt sett en avtagande trend. Fyra olika denitrifikationsförsök genomfördes i laboratorieskala med det uttagna hydrolysatet där den tillsatta COD-halten antingen var 3,3 eller 4 gånger den initiala nitratkvävekoncentrationen. Syftet med denitrifikationsförsöken var att utvärdera det framtagna hydrolysatets funktion som en kolkälla. Denitrifikationsförsöken uppvisade denitrifikationshastigheter mellan 4,3 och 7 mg NO3-N/g volatile suspended solids*h med kol-kvävekvoter (C/N-kvoter) mellan 3,9 och 12,3 mg COD/mg NO3-N. Lägst C/N-kvot erhöll lägst denitrifikationshastighet. Dock kunde inte slutsatsen dras att högst C/N-kvot gav högst denitrifikatioshastighet. Även de ekonomiska aspekterna undersöktes i syfte att utreda kostnaderna för ett avloppsreningsverk med trepunktsfällning, biogasutvinning och uttag av intern kolkälla från primärslammet vid en uppskalning motsvarande 100 000 personekvivalenter. Uttaget av en intern kolkälla skulle trots förlust i biogasutvinning vara ekonomiskt gynnsamt. Vinsten, i form av att ej behöva inhandla en extern kolkälla, i detta fall etanol, motsvarar biogasförlustens belopp. Trepunktsfällningens fällningskemikaliekostnader var den största posten och uppgick till 8 060 000 kr. Denna kostnad kontra mindre energiförbrukning i biosteget undersöktes också. Här uppgick besparingarna i biosteget till ca 1/8 av fällningskemikaliekostnaderna. Då trepunktsfällningen endast kunde ge en 75-procentig COD-reduktion, vilket motsvarar en vanlig förfällning, anses trepunktsfällningen vara ekonomisk ogynnsam då den medför extra kostnader av polymerer.  Istället borde trepunktsfällningen ersättas med en förfällning. Sammanfattningsvis kan det konstateras att en intern kolkälla i form av hydrolyserat primärslam skulle kunna ersätta en extern kolkälla rent funktionsmässigt. Dock måste åtgärder göras för att minimera produktionen av ammonium under slamhydrolysen. Ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv skulle utvinningen av en intern kolkälla endast vara ekonomisk gynnsam då trepunktsfällningen ersätts med förfällning. / Water treatment is costly, from both an economic and environmental point of view, since the need for precipitation chemicals, carbon sources and energy is high. It is therefore desirable to look for alternative solutions that enable plants to be more self-sustaining. Hammarby Sjöstadsverket is a pilot plant for wastewater treatment located in Henriksdal, a southeastern neighborhood of Stockholm. The plant is owned by IVL, Svenska Miljöinstitutet and Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH). Since the pilot plant was built in 2002, several different cleaning techniques have been evaluated with focus on striving for eco-friendly and eco-adapted systems. For instance, a pre-precipitation technique, so-called three step precipitation have been evaluated. The three step precipitation implicates that a metal salt followed by two different polymers are added in the flocculation chamber in the particular order to thereby enable to reduce a higher content of the organic material. In previous precipitation tests at Hammarby Sjöstadsverket, one managed to remove up to 90 % of the organic material using the three step precipitation (IVL, Hammarby Sjöstadsverket, 2011). This can be compared to a removal of only 75 % with ordinary pre-precipitation. This thesis aims to validate already obtained results within three step precipitation and with biological hydrolysis of primary sludge, extract a carbon source for post-denitrification containing as high concentrations of Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) as possible and to investigate the cost of a wastewater treatment plant with three step precipitation, biogas generation and collection of internal carbon source from primary sludge at an upscaling corresponding to 100,000 person equivalents. Precipitation experiments were carried out in pilot scale with the precipitation chemicals, PAX-XL 36, combined with a low molecular weight organic polymer, Purfix-120, followed by a high molecular weight inorganic polymer, Super Flock C-494. The purpose of the three step precipitation was to validate the already produced results within three step precipitation and thus separate as large amounts of organic material as possible in the precipitation so that a primary sludge containing a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) can be obtained.Two different dosages of Purfix-120 were tested: 45 and 60 g/m3. The best reduction of COD and phosphorus were obtained when 193 g/m3 PAX XL-36 was combined with 60 g/m3 Purfix-120 and 0.025 g/m3 Super Flock C-494. Hereby a COD reduction of 75 % and a total phosphorus removal of 83 % were obtained. By hydrolysis of primary sludge in batch experiments Total Solid (TS) concentrations of 1, 2 and 3 % and residence times of up to eight days were examined. The purpose of the hydrolysis in this case was to investigate which TS concentration and residence time that gave the highest production of VFA. The experiments showed that a TS concentration of 3 % produced the highest amount of VFA and that the VFA production of the three different TS concentrations peaked at the second day. The VFA and COD production increased linearly for the three TS concentrations up until day five. After day five the COD and VFA production, for the TS concentrations of 1 and 2 %, started to decrease slightly. However TS 3 % did not show the same declining trend for VFA. Furthermore the daily ammonium and pH were investigated.  As the VFA and COD concentration increased the ammonium concentration increased as well. pH had overall a  decreasing trend. Four different denitrification tests were performed in batch experiments with the extracted hydrolyzate. The added COD content from the hydolyzate was either 3.3 or 4 times the initial nitrate concentration. The denitrification tests showed denitrification rates between 4.3 and 7 mg NO3-N / g volatile suspended solids * h with carbon-nitrogen ratios (C/N ratio) between 3.9 and 12.3 mg COD/mg NO3-N. The lowest C/N ratio received the lowest denitrification rate. However, it could not be concluded that the maximum C/N ratio had the highest denitrification rate. Futhermore the financial aspects were examined in order to investigate the cost of a wastewater treatment plant with three step precipitation, biogas generation and collection of internal carbon source from primary sludge at an upscaling corresponding to 100,000 person equivalents. The extraction of an internal carbon source would, despite loss of biogas production, be economically beneficial. Gain, in terms of not having to purchase an external carbon source, in this case ethanol, amounts to the amount of the biogas loss. The three step precipitation chemical costs were the largest item, amounting to 8,060,000 SEK. This cost versus less energy utilization in the biological step was also examined. In this case the savings in the biological step amounted to about 1/8 of precipitation chemical cost. Since the three step precipitation only managed to remove 75 % of the COD, a removal which corresponds to an ordinary pre-precipitation, the three step precipitation is considered to be economically unfavorable as it involves additional costs of polymers. Instead the three step precipitation should be replaced with a pre-precipitation. In summary it can be stated that an internal carbon source in the form of hydrolyzed primary sludge could replace an external carbon source in a functional way. However, steps must be taken to minimize the production of ammonium during sludge hydrolysis. From an economic perspective, the extraction of an internal carbon source would only be economical favorable if the three step precipitation is replaced with pre-precipitation.

Den biologiska reningen av näringsämnen vid avloppsreningsverk (ARV) kräver tillgång på en lätt nedbrytbar kolkälla, som till exempel flyktiga fettsyror (VFA; eng. Volatile Fatty Acids). Denna studie utforskade möjligheten till VFA-produktion genom biologisk anaerob jäsning av primärslam från Fillan ARV i Sundsvall. Effekten av både temperatur och hydraulisk uppehållstid undersöktes.  Resultaten visade högre VFA-koncentrationer vid 37 °C jämfört med 20 °C och 55 °C, vilket tyder på att temperaturen har en betydande effekt på VFA-produktionen. Dessutom undersöktes den optimala kombinationen av temperatur och uppehållstid, där 37 °C och fyra-dagars uppehållstid gav det högsta VFA-utbytet. Potentialen av att använda de producerade fettsyrorna för bortrening av näringsämnen vid Fillan ARV utvärderades genom både teoretiska beräkningar och experimentell validering. Resultaten visade att användandet av en internt producerad kolkälla utvunnen från primärslam skulle kunna vara ett alternativ till kommersiella (externa) kolkällor i reningsprocesser av avloppsvatten som en hållbar och ekonomiskt fördelaktig strategi. / Biological nutrient removal processes in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) rely on the availability of easily degradable carbon compounds, such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs). This study explored the feasibility of VFA production through biological anaerobic fermentation of primary sludge (PS) sourced from Fillan WWTP in Sundsvall, Sweden. The impact of temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT) was investigated.  Results revealed higher VFA concentrations at 37 °C compared to 20 °C and 55 °C, indicating temperature's impact on VFA production. Additionally, optimal temperature and HRT combinations were explored, with 37 °C and a four-day HRT showing the highest VFA yields. The potential for nutrient removal at Fillan WWTP using the VFAs produced as a carbon source was assessed through theoretical calculations and experimental validation. The findings revealed that using an internally produced carbon source derived from PS could be an alternative to commercial (external) carbon sources in the wastewater treatment processes as a sustainable and economically advantageous strategy.

Os processos anaeróbios têm sido recentemente adotados como unidades principais em sistemas de tratamento de efluentes, em virtude das inúmeras vantagens que apresentam. Este trabalho de pesquisa, no entanto, visa possibilitar a obtenção de fonte de carbono prontamente degradável a partir de uma das primeiras aplicações da biotecnologia anaeróbia: a digestão de lodo. A partir de um digestor hidrolítico e acidogênico de lodo primário foi possível a obtenção de efluentes com altas concentrações de DQO solúvel (da ordem de 4.000 mg/L) e ácidos graxos voláteis – AGV – (da ordem de 600 mg/L). Porém, foi necessária a aplicação de um processo de troca iônica para a remoção das altas concentrações de 'NH IND.4'POT.+' (da ordem de 480 mg/L) no efluente do DHL. A utilização de zeólitas – minerais de silício e alumínio – permitiu a remoção de íons amônio, através de experimentos em bateladas e colunas. As capacidades de adsorção de 'NH IND.4'POT.+' por massa de zeólitas atingidas foram de 8,0 mg 'NH IND.4'POT.+'/g. Adicionalmente, foi realizado o estudo da regeneração do mineral, através de processo biológico de nitrificação e posterior aplicação do mineral regenerado para remoção de 'NH IND.4'POT.+'. O processo resultou na obtenção de minerais com capacidades próximas às atingidas por amostras de zeólitas virgens. Além de restaurar grande parte da capacidade inicial de troca iônica do mineral (87% da capacidade inicial), o processo de regeneração biológica permite a obtenção de efluente com altas concentrações de nitrato (da ordem de 400 mg/L), podendo ser aproveitado para correção de solos com deficiência deste nutriente. O processo como um todo envolve conceitos de sustentabilidade aplicada aos sistemas de tratamento de efluentes, pois promove a utilização de subproduto de estações de tratamento, bem como a reutilização do mineral aplicado no processo de troca iônica. / Anaerobic processes have recently been widely adopted as core units in sewage treatment systems, due to several advantages inherent in these processes. However, this research aims at the acquisition of readily degradable carbon source by means of a primary application of anaerobic biotechnology: the sludge digestion. The use of a hidrolitic and acidogenic digester of primary sludge made it possible to achieve high concentrations for soluble COD (around 4.000 mg/L) and volatile fatty acids – VFA - (around 600 mg/L). Along with high concentrations of soluble COD and VFA, the effluent of the hidrolitic and acidogenic digester also presented undesirable significant amount of ammonium (480 mg 'NH IND.4'POT.+'/L), which was removed by the application of ion-exchange process. Natural zeolites were employed as the cation exchanger, achieving values of 8.0 mg 'NH IND.4'POT.+'/g for ammonium removal per unit mass of zeolite. The zeolite saturated with 'NH IND.4'POT.+' ions was biologically regenerated by nitrifying sludge. Regenerated zeolite samples were then reused for ammonium removal and presented removal capacities close to the ones achieved by fresh samples. The whole process (primary sludge digestion followed by ion-exchange process for ammonium removal and biological regeneration of saturated zeolite samples) comprises several sustainability concepts, as it promotes, concomitantly, primary sludge pre-digestion and the reutilization of the zeolite employed as cation exchanger for 'NH IND.4'POT.+' ions removal. In addition to partially recovering original exchange capacity (87% of original capacity), biological regeneration of saturated zeolite also produced, as effluent, highly nitrate concentrated solution (around 400 mg/L), which could be used as nitrogen source for soil enrichment.

Os processos anaeróbios têm sido recentemente adotados como unidades principais em sistemas de tratamento de efluentes, em virtude das inúmeras vantagens que apresentam. Este trabalho de pesquisa, no entanto, visa possibilitar a obtenção de fonte de carbono prontamente degradável a partir de uma das primeiras aplicações da biotecnologia anaeróbia: a digestão de lodo. A partir de um digestor hidrolítico e acidogênico de lodo primário foi possível a obtenção de efluentes com altas concentrações de DQO solúvel (da ordem de 4.000 mg/L) e ácidos graxos voláteis – AGV – (da ordem de 600 mg/L). Porém, foi necessária a aplicação de um processo de troca iônica para a remoção das altas concentrações de 'NH IND.4'POT.+' (da ordem de 480 mg/L) no efluente do DHL. A utilização de zeólitas – minerais de silício e alumínio – permitiu a remoção de íons amônio, através de experimentos em bateladas e colunas. As capacidades de adsorção de 'NH IND.4'POT.+' por massa de zeólitas atingidas foram de 8,0 mg 'NH IND.4'POT.+'/g. Adicionalmente, foi realizado o estudo da regeneração do mineral, através de processo biológico de nitrificação e posterior aplicação do mineral regenerado para remoção de 'NH IND.4'POT.+'. O processo resultou na obtenção de minerais com capacidades próximas às atingidas por amostras de zeólitas virgens. Além de restaurar grande parte da capacidade inicial de troca iônica do mineral (87% da capacidade inicial), o processo de regeneração biológica permite a obtenção de efluente com altas concentrações de nitrato (da ordem de 400 mg/L), podendo ser aproveitado para correção de solos com deficiência deste nutriente. O processo como um todo envolve conceitos de sustentabilidade aplicada aos sistemas de tratamento de efluentes, pois promove a utilização de subproduto de estações de tratamento, bem como a reutilização do mineral aplicado no processo de troca iônica. / Anaerobic processes have recently been widely adopted as core units in sewage treatment systems, due to several advantages inherent in these processes. However, this research aims at the acquisition of readily degradable carbon source by means of a primary application of anaerobic biotechnology: the sludge digestion. The use of a hidrolitic and acidogenic digester of primary sludge made it possible to achieve high concentrations for soluble COD (around 4.000 mg/L) and volatile fatty acids – VFA - (around 600 mg/L). Along with high concentrations of soluble COD and VFA, the effluent of the hidrolitic and acidogenic digester also presented undesirable significant amount of ammonium (480 mg 'NH IND.4'POT.+'/L), which was removed by the application of ion-exchange process. Natural zeolites were employed as the cation exchanger, achieving values of 8.0 mg 'NH IND.4'POT.+'/g for ammonium removal per unit mass of zeolite. The zeolite saturated with 'NH IND.4'POT.+' ions was biologically regenerated by nitrifying sludge. Regenerated zeolite samples were then reused for ammonium removal and presented removal capacities close to the ones achieved by fresh samples. The whole process (primary sludge digestion followed by ion-exchange process for ammonium removal and biological regeneration of saturated zeolite samples) comprises several sustainability concepts, as it promotes, concomitantly, primary sludge pre-digestion and the reutilization of the zeolite employed as cation exchanger for 'NH IND.4'POT.+' ions removal. In addition to partially recovering original exchange capacity (87% of original capacity), biological regeneration of saturated zeolite also produced, as effluent, highly nitrate concentrated solution (around 400 mg/L), which could be used as nitrogen source for soil enrichment.