Effects of Al^3+ on the microstructure and bioflocculation of anoxic sludge

摘要

The aluminum ions generated from mining aluminum,electrolytic aluminum and the industrial production of aluminum-based coagulants(such as AlCl3 and Al2(SO4)3)enter sewage treatment plants and interact with activated sludges.An anaerobic/anoxic/oxic(A2^O)process was used to reveal the effects of Al^3+on the pollutant removal efficiencies,bioflocculation and the micro structure of sludge.The results showed that a low concentration of Al^3+improved the pollutant removal efficiencies and increased the sludge particle size.However,a high concentration of Al^3+hindered microbial flocculation and reduced the pollutant removal efficiencies.With a 10 mg/L Al^3+addition,the chemical oxygen demand(COD),total nitrogen(TN)and NH4+-N increased by 3%,16%and 27%,and reached as high as 68%,60%and 87%,respectively.At the same time,the dehydrogenase activity,flocculation ability(FA)and contact angle of the sludge reached their maximum levels at 41.3 mg/L/hr,45%and 79.63°,respectively.The specific surface area of the sludge decreased to 7.084 m2/g and the sludge pore size distribution shifted to concentrate in the me soporous range.Most of Al^3+was adsorbed on the surface of sludge,changing the physicochemical properties and physical structure of the sludge.