The use of an on-line respirometer for the screening of toxicity in the antwerp WWTP catchment area

• Published in: INSTRUMENTATION, CONTROL AND AUTOMATION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT SYSTEMS 1997 Vol. 37; no. 12; pp. 213 - 218
• Main Authors: Geenens, D., Thoeye, C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-01-1998; Pergamon; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Activated sludge; Activated sludge process; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Catchment area; Catchment areas; Effluent treatment; Effluents; Environment and pollution; Environmental law; Environmental legislation; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial wastewaters; Inhibition; Laws and legislation; Legislation; Mineral nutrients; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Nutrient removal; on-line monitoring; Phosphorus; Pollution; Removal; respirometer; Respirometers; sewer system; Sewer systems; Sludge; Toxicity; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Water treatment plants; WWTP; toxicity; WWTP; sewer system; Inhibition; nutrient removal; respirometer; on-line monitoring; Activated sludge; Toxicity; Biosensor; Respirometry; Urban waste water; Waste water purification; Biological purification
• ISBN: 008043388X; 9780080433882
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.1016/S0273-1223(98)00360-6

Following the new European and Flemish environmental legislation most of the existing Flemish wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have to be adapted to achieve nutrient removal. The Antwerp WWTP Deurne-Schijnpoort (230,000 PE) is to be renovated to achieve a 10 mg/l total nitrogen and a 1 mg/l total phosphorous effluent consent. Six months of intensive pilot work at this plant has shown total nitrification inhibition of one- stage activated sludge processes. A mobile on-line respirometer was installed to monitor the activated sludge inhibition at the WWTP. Toxicity resulting in a substantial deterioration of the WWTP effluent was observed. Industrial discharges and main junctions in the sewer system were sampled for specific monitoring. An industrial source of inhibition could be pinpointed. Full-scale operating experiences with the respirometer during the measurements are reported.