How Hot is T_(00) Hot? Reviewing the Treatment Performance of Refinery WWTP Biological Treatment Systems Operating at High Temperatures

摘要

This study reviews the treatment performance and microbial ecology of two North American refinery WWTP biological treatment systems (1 MBBR and 1 CAS) which continuously operate between 38°C to 52°C (100℉ to 125℉). Results from both refinery WWTP's show that biological treatment systems can effectively remove organic compounds and nitrify ammonia above 35°C (95℉). Routine qPCR and metagenomic analysis were conducted at each system to determine the predominate nitrifying organisms. It was determined that ammonia oxidation in the MBBR is most likely due to Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea (AOA) instead of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) which are dominant in the CAS units. The key conclusion is that biological wastewater treatment systems are not restricted to operate at a maximum limit of 35°C (95℉) which can provide certain advantages when optimizing an industrial WWTP, upgrading upstream processes or building a new green field plant.