Bionutrient Removal with a Sequencing Batch Reactor

Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from a domestic wastewater using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was evaluated at solid retention times (SRTs) of 9.3, 13.8, and 18.3 days respectively. Oxygen uptake rates (OURs) and sludge settling characteristics were determined at each SRT investigated. COD removal, nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal were accomplished by using the following operating cycle: 15-min unmixed fill; 2-hr mixed anaerobic period; 3-hr mixed aerobic period; 3-hr mixed anoxic period; 0.5-hr reaeration period; 1-hr settling period; 1-hr decant period; and a 1.5-hr idle period. Advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) standards of 5/5/3/1 mg L^-1 for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), suspended solids (SS), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) could not be achieved with the bench-scale SBR.     

Removal and Transformation of Pollutants in a Two-Line Denitrifying Phosphorus Removal Process Treating Low C/N Municipal Wastewater: Influence of Hydraulic Retention Time

A two-line denitrifying phosphorus removal process (2L-DPR) was established treating low C/N municipal wastewater efficiently in our previous studies, while hydraulic retention time (HRT) is one of the most important factors determining the substrate loading, contact time for biomass, and pollutants and further affect performance of the whole system. Removal and transformation mechanism of organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) were investigated together with mass balance under various HRTs (6, 9, and 18 h) in the established 2L-DPR process. The results showed that in anaerobic units, the concentration of the main storage products in activated sludge such as poly-hydroxyvalerate (PHV) and poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) at HRT of 9 h was higher than that under other HRTs. The highest TN and TP removal efficiency was also achieved under the HRT of 9 h with removal rates of 55.9% and 84.6% respectively. Increasing HRT from 6 to 9 h greatly enhanced TN removal in anoxic and aerobic units; however, HRTs had little influence on COD removal with effluent concentration of 48.6, 49.1, and 48.9 mg/L, respectively. HRT affected phosphorus up-taken in anoxic and aerobic units rather than on the release of phosphorus processes in anaerobic units.     

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Industry Wastewater Treatment using UASB Reactor System with Recourse to Energy Recovery

The investigation was carried out on laboratory scale to assess the feasibility of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor system as a pretreatment for hydrogenated vegetable oil industry wastewater with recourse to energy recovery. The reactor system operated at 35°C, resulted in COD removal efficiency in the range 98.9–80.1% at organic loading varying in the range 1.33–10 kgCOD/m³ day. The specific methane yield varied from 0.295–0.345 m³CH₄/kgCOD_r. Hydraulic retention time, substrate concentrations, pH, and temperature were also varied to study the influence of operating parameters on reactor performance. The methane content decreased with increase in substrate loading rate, and varied from 53–66.7% under varying operating conditions. Impulse loading studies in terms of hydraulic, organic, and pH though resulted in destabilization of the reactor; however, the reactor rapidly achieved stable performance after steady operation.     

Interaction of Magnesium–Iron–Carbonic-Layered Double Hydroxides with As(III)

Static granular bed reactor (SGBR) and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor were demonstrated at mesophilic condition for the treatment of pulp and paper mill wastewater. The hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were varied from 4 to 24 h following 29-day start-up period. The overall chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of the SGBR was higher than the UASB during this study. At 4 h HRT, the COD removal was greater than 70 % for the SGBR and 60 % for the UASB. Biomass yield and volatile fatty acids concentration of SGBR were slightly less than UASB at organic loading rates ranging from 1.2 to 5.1 kg/m³/day. The results indicated that the SGBR system can be considered a viable alternative system for anaerobic treatment for pulp and paper wastewater.     

复式潜流湿地净化生活污水的试验研究

研究了新型复式潜流人工湿地对生活污水的净化效果。在不同水力负荷、季节、曝气方式等条件下经过小试试验,分析了该湿地对污染物净化效果的影响。结果表明,该系统出水水质稳定,达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918—2002)的一级A标准。在水力负荷184 mm·d-1条件下COD、NH3-N去除率最大分别可达87.2%、68.9%。冬季低温条件下对各类污染物去除率仍大于20%。正交试验分析得知,最佳运行条件是气温28.6℃、水力负荷0.184 m3·m-2·d-1、水力停留时间2.4 d。对比试验表明,采用预曝气方式对湿地净化效果明显优于厌氧处理。     

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Wastewater,Sediments, Sludge and Plants in Karak Province,Jordan

Analysis for sixteen types of Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)from samples of raw and treated wastewater, sediments, sludge andplants growing along treated wastewater way was performed inOctober 1997. The collection sites represent two wastewatertreatment plants (WWTP) receiving different types of wastewaterand one site from disposal of raw wastewater in the city ofKarak in southern Jordan.Wastewater treatment efficiency showed removal of PAHs throughsettling tanks and adsorption on sediments after treatment. Theremoval percentage ranged from 44–100% for individual PAH.PAHs were widely distributed at various levels in rawwastewater, treated wastewater, sludge, sediments and plants.The highest concentration was observed in sludge and the lowestin plants. There was a variation in PAHs concentration betweenthe three investigated sites which was attributed to theefficiency of treatment, period of contact with the wastewater,and the nature of activities. The WWTPs were capable or reducingPAHs contamination in water, up to 40% of the total PAHs byadsorption on sludge and sediments.     

剩余污泥厌氧发酵混合物提高低C/N污水处理效果

为了避免剩余污泥厌氧发酵液利用时泥液难分离的问题,探讨了直接将发酵混合物用作外加碳源处理低碳氮比(C/N)污水的可行性。为此,首先对比了酸性(pH值=4.0±0.2)、中性(不控pH值)、碱性(pH值=10.0±0.2)条件下长期运行的剩余污泥厌氧发酵混合物的特性;其次,分别考察了碱性厌氧发酵混合物的不同投加量(0、10、20、30、50、100、200 mL),在反硝化及释磷过程中的利用。结果表明:碱性条件下溶解性化学需氧量(soluble chemical oxygen demand,SCOD)和短链脂肪酸(short-chain fatty acids,SCFAs)产量要远高于酸性和中性条件的,其中C/N比和C/P比分别高达18.9和57.0,更适合作为外加碳源利用。反硝化过程中,当初始NO_3~--N=(15.0±0.5)mg/L时,最佳投加量为30 mL,此时NO_3~--N去除率为100%;释磷过程中,最佳投加量为20 mL,此时最大净释磷量为22.8 mg/L。剩余污泥碱性厌氧发酵混合物用作外加碳源是可行的,既解决了碳源不足及剩余污泥处理的双重问题,又简化了传统发酵液利用时泥液分离的操作步骤,适用于处理低C/N比乡镇生活污水。     

猪场废水厌氧发酵前固液分离对总固体及污染物的去除效果

养殖废水中高浓度污染物质主要来自于固态粪污的溶解或微生物的分解作用,在废水产生后立即进行固液分离,可以有效将废水中还未溶解的固态物质分离出去,从而降低废水中污染物的含量和减轻后续生化处理的压力。该研究以猪场废水为研究对象,采用离心分离方式对废水进行固液分离,主要考察废水中总固体、化学需氧量(chemical oxygen demand,COD)及氮磷化合物的去除效果。结果表明,离心分离可使废水中总固体去除50%~65%,COD去除效率在45%~55%,N、P元素的去除率在30%~50%之间。通过甲烷化潜力测试研究,发现离心分离可使废水中可厌氧生化物质去除50%以上,这可大幅节约生化处理池的建造体积和处理周期。以万头猪场日产100 t废水量为例,生化前离心处理较直接生化处理可节约45%的废水处理成本。该研究可为大中型养殖场就如何节约废水处理工程投资和处理成本上提供新的设计思路与参考依据。     

Electrochemical Production of Ferrate (Iron VI): Application to the Wastewater Treatment on a Laboratory Scale and Comparison with Iron (III) Coagulant

This paper presents a comparative study of the performance of ferrate(VI), FeO ₄ ^2? , and ferric, Fe(III), towards wastewater treatment. The ferrate(VI) was produced by electrochemical synthesis, using steel electrodes in a 16 M NaOH solution. Domestic wastewater collected from Hailsham North Wastewater Treatment Works was treated with ferrate(VI) and ferric sulphate (Fe(III)). Samples were analysed for suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and P removal. Results for low doses of Fe(VI) were validated via a reproducibility study. Removal of phosphorous reached 40% with a Fe(VI) dose as low as 0.01 mg/L compared to 25% removal with 10 mg/L of Fe(III). For lower doses (<1 mg/L as Fe), Fe(VI) can achieve between 60% and 80% removals of SS and COD, but Fe(III) performed even not as well as the control sample where no iron chemical was dosed. The ferrate solution was found to be stable for a maximum of 50 min, beyond which Fe(VI) is reduced to less oxidant species. This provided the maximum allowed storage time of the electrochemically produced ferrate(VI) solution. Results demonstrated that low addition of ferrate(VI) leads to good removal of P, BOD, COD and suspended solids from wastewater compared to ferric addition and further studies could bring an optimisation of the dosage and treatment.     

固定床厌氧反应器处理高浓度糖蜜废水

为开发高效处理高浓度有机废水的厌氧沼气发酵技术,以活性炭纤维作为生物膜载体,在实验室规模上对固定床厌氧反应器处理高浓度糖蜜废水的运行性能进行了研究。初始进水COD为5 000 mg/L,水力停留时间（HRT）保持在2 d左右。在进水COD为47 000 mg/L以内时,相应的有机容积负荷（OLR,COD含量）达到21.38 kg/(m3×d),COD去除率保持在86%以上,沼气容积产气率为9.51 L /(L×d),甲烷容积产气率为6.46 L /(L×d);当OLR进一步从21.38 kg/(m3×d) 逐步升高到35.13、39.06、44.88 kg/(m3×d) 时,COD去除率从86.48%分别降低到74.40%,67.02% 和63.50%,相应的沼气容积产气率为13.71,13.98和11.44 L/(L×d),甲烷容积产气率为8.84,8.67和5.89 L/(L×d)。进水的pH值通常在3.5～5.6之间,OLR低于35.13 kg/(m3×d) 时,无需对pH值进行中和调节,出水的pH值自然维持在6.8～7.6的良好状态,超出此范围,则需加碱对进水的pH值作适当调节。最终进水COD高达78 600 mg/L,相应的OLR为44.88 kg/(m3×d)。在165 d的运行过程中污泥形成量小,没有发生堵塞现象,固定床厌氧反应器表现出高效的处理酸性高浓度有机废水和较强的抗负荷冲击的能力。     

Assessment of Biogas use as an Energy Source from Anaerobic Digestion of Brewery Wastewater

Energy recovery from a crossflow ultrafiltration (UF) membraneunit employed in order to improve the performance of an anaerobic contact digester for the treatment of brewery wastewater was assessed. The performance of the pilot-scale anaerobic UF membrane system was studied for over 15 months. At steady-state conditions, an organic loading rate of 28.5 kg COD m^-3 d^-1, a hydraulic retention time of 4.2 days and overall COD and BOD removal efficiencies of 99% and almost 100% were achieved, respectively. Percent methane in biogas was found to be in a range of 67–79% with the corresponding methane yield of 0.28–0.35 m³ CH₄ kg^-1 COD_removed. The potential energy recovery from the system treating brewery wastewater at an OLR of 28.5 kg COD m^-3 d^-1 was 87 MJ d^-1 which would enable to maintain all energy requirements of the feed pump, mixing and heating of the reactor contents. In addition to this, 71% of the energy requirement for recirculating the reactor content through the membranes would also be recovered.     

Effects of Vegetation, Season and Temperature on the Removal of Pollutants in Experimental Floating Treatment Wetlands

The research and interest towards the use of constructed floating wetlands for (waste)water treatment is emerging as more treatment opportunities are marked out, and the technique is applied more often. To evaluate the effect of a floating macrophyte mat and the influence of temperature and season on physico-chemical changes and removal, two constructed floating wetlands (CFWs), including a floating macrophyte mat, and a control, without emergent vegetation, were built. Raw domestic wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant was added on day 0. Removal of total nitrogen, NH₄–N, NO₃–N, P, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon and heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) was studied during 17 batch-fed testing periods with a retention time of 11 days (February–March 2007 and August 2007–September 2008). In general, the CFWs performed better than the control. Average removal efficiencies for NH₄–N, total nitrogen, P and COD were respectively 35%, 42%, 22% and 53% for the CFWs, and 3%, 15%, 6% and 33% for the control. The pH was significantly lower in the CFWs (7.08?±?0.21) than in the control (7.48?±?0.26) after 11 days. The removal efficiencies of NH₄–N, total nitrogen and COD were significantly higher in the CFWs as the presence of the floating macrophyte mat influenced positively their removal. Total nitrogen, NH₄–N and P removal was significantly influenced by temperature with the highest removal between 5°C and 15°C. At lower and higher temperatures, removal relapsed. In general, temperature seemed to be the steering factor rather than season. The presence of the floating macrophyte mat restrained the increase of the water temperature when air temperature was >15°C. Although the mat hampered oxygen diffusion from the air towards the water column, the redox potential measured in the rootmat was higher than the value obtained in the control at the same depth, indicating that the release of oxygen from the roots could stimulate oxygen consuming reactions within the root mat, and root oxygen release was higher than oxygen diffusion from the air.     

碳氮比对水芹浮床系统去除低污染水氮磷效果的影响

随着我国经济的快速发展,农业面源污染问题日益严重,加剧了淡水水质恶化的趋势。本研究以浮床水芹(Oenanthe javanica)系统和无植物对照(Control)为对象,研究了其对不同碳氮比农村低污染水[定义为农业生产或农民生活过程中产生的,富含植物生长所需的氮、磷等养分与多种微量元素且满足城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准一级B要求(GB 18918—2002一级B:TN≤20 mg·L~(-1),TP≤1 mg·L~(-1))的那部分污水]中氮(N)、磷(P)、化学需氧量(COD)的净化效果。试验所用低污染水为生活污水(TWW)和外加碳源生活污水(高碳氮比,TWW-HC)两种。整个试验历时82 d,中间换水一次。试验结果表明水芹浮床系统接纳高碳氮比低污染水对氮磷的去除效果较好。外加碳源能在短时间内快速降低低污染水中N、P的浓度,试验3 d时TWW-HC中总氮(TN)、氨氮(NH4+-N)、总磷(TP)的去除率分别达40.8%、38.4%、62.8%。整个试验周期TWW-HC组对TN的去除率为73.9%~96.0%,高于TWW组(60.6%~85.9%);该组对TP的去除率为68.0%~81.1%,高于TWW组和Control组(TP去除率分别为21.3%~54.9%和19.2%~58.1%)。收获时TWW-HC处理水芹生物量、平均株高和相对生长速率均显著高于TWW处理(P0.05)。TWW-HC处理通过植物吸收带走的N、P分别占系统对N、P去除量的58.2%和37.6%,明显高于TWW处理(相应比例分别为8.7%和11.0%)。这说明通过外加碳源调节进水C∶N比促进了水芹的生长和对污水中养分的吸收利用,有利于水芹浮床系统对N、P的去除。     

Occurrence of PPCPs at a Wastewater Treatment Plant and in Soil and Groundwater at a Land Application Site

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) can reach soil and aquatic environments through land application of wastewater effluent and agricultural runoff. The objective of this research was to assess the fate of PPCPs at field scale. PPCPs were measured systematically in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), and in soil and groundwater receiving treated effluent from the WWTP. A land application site in West Texas was used as the study site; it has received treated wastewater effluent from the WWTP for more than 70 years in order to remove additional nutrients and irrigate non-edible crops. Target compounds (estrone, 17??-estradiol, estriol, 17??-ethynylestradiol, triclosan, caffeine, ibuprofen, and ciprofloxacin) in wastewater, sewage sludge, soil, and groundwater were determined using HPLC/UV with qualitative confirmatory analyses using GC/MS. Samples were collected quarterly over 12 months for wastewater and sludge samples and over 9 months for soil and groundwater samples. Results indicated that concentrations of PPCPs in wastewater influent, effluent, sludge solid phase, and sludge liquid phase were in the range of non-detected (ND)-183 ??g/L, ND-83 ??g/L, ND-19 ??g/g, and ND-50 ??g/L, respectively. Concentrations in soil and groundwater samples were in the range of ND-319 ng/g and ND-1,745 ??g/L, respectively. GC/MS confirmation data were consistent with the results of HPLC/UV analyses. Overall, data indicate that PPCPs in the wastewater effluent from the WWTP transport both vertically and horizontally in the soil, and eventually reach groundwater following land application of the effluent.     

Biological Denitrification of High Nitrate Processing Wastewaters from Explosives Production Plant

Wastewater samples originating from an explosives production plant (3,000 mg N l⁻¹ nitrate, 4.8 mg l⁻¹ nitroglycerin, 1.9 mg l⁻¹ nitroglycol and 1,200 mg l⁻¹ chemical oxygen demand) were subjected to biological purification. An attempt to completely remove nitrate and to decrease the chemical oxygen demand was carried out under anaerobic conditions. A soil isolated microbial consortium capable of biodegrading various organic compounds and reduce nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen under anaerobic conditions was used. Complete removal of nitrates with simultaneous elimination of nitroglycerin and ethylene glycol dinitrate (nitroglycol) was achieved as a result of the conducted research. Specific nitrate reduction rate was estimated at 12.3 mg N g⁻¹ VSS h⁻¹. Toxicity of wastewater samples during the denitrification process was studied by measuring the activity of dehydrogenases in the activated sludge. Mutagenicity was determined by employing the Ames test. The maximum mutagenic activity did not exceed 0.5. The obtained results suggest that the studied wastewater samples did not exhibit mutagenic properties.     

Na+和K+共存对A2/O工艺脱氮除磷效果及污泥性质的影响

为了揭示多种金属离子共存的含盐废水生物处理系统污染物的去除机制和污泥特性,考察Na~+、K~+共存对A~2/O工艺污染物去除率、污泥性质和微生物群落的影响,采用高通量测序技术分析了厌氧区、缺氧区和好氧区的微生物群落结构,结合脱氮除磷效果和污泥性质的变化,探讨不同Na~+/K~+摩尔比下A~2/O工艺优势种群的演替规律,以期从微生物角度明确Na~+、K~+共存对含盐废水污染物去除率的影响。结果表明:当进水Na~+/K~+摩尔比分别为2、1和0.5时,A~2/O工艺的COD去除率分别为80%、84%和86%,TN去除率分别为73%、77%和80%,K~+浓度的提高缓解了Na~+对COD和TN去除率的抑制作用;厌氧区释磷率分别为70%、73%和74%,缺氧区吸磷率分别为53%、55%和58%,好氧区吸磷率分别为70%、72%和75%。随着进水Na~+/K~+摩尔比的降低,厌氧区、缺氧区和好氧区微生物群落的丰富度和多样性降低,微生物群落差异显著,变形菌门的相对丰度均升高约30%,拟杆菌门和绿弯菌门相对丰度逐渐降低。陶氏菌属和固氮弧菌属作为优势菌属,其相对丰度逐渐增大,有利于氮磷污染物的去除。通过增加K~+的浓度有利于提高氮、磷去除率,增强污泥的生物絮凝性和反硝化聚磷菌的活性。     

电极-SBBR对集中型沼液的脱氮除铜研究

为了处理集中型沼液中过高的氨氮和由饲料添加剂带入的铜,将电极生物膜法与序批式生物膜反应器(SBBR)工艺的优势进行互补,构建电极-SBBR耦合新工艺,以同时去除氮与铜。通过实验室配水与沼液试验,探讨了电极-SBBR体系同步脱氮除铜的工艺参数及其效果。结果表明,集中型沼液电极-SBBR体系的操作工序为:进水→厌氧→曝气→缺氧/厌氧→出水→闲置,运行参数为:水力停留时间7.0h,厌氧0.5h、曝气4.0h、缺氧/厌氧2.5h;电流30～60mA,溶解氧(DO)4.0～5.0mg/L,碳氮比(C/N)>10.0。电极-SBBR体系对沼液中全氮(TN)、Cu2+、化学耗氧量(COD)的去除率分别达到45.79%、86.53%和84.86%,可以作为沼液脱氮除铜的新工艺。     

Heat Flux Measurements and Modeling of Malodorous Compounds above an Anaerobic Swine Lagoon

The number of chemical compounds in sewage and consequently their release into the environment is increasing. Some of them are toxic and many of them are considered endocrine disrupters. Here, the capacity of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to remove caffeine, hormones and bisphenol-A was investigated. Bisphenol-A and caffeine are highly water-soluble compounds, as opposed to hormones (estradiol, estriol, and ethynilestradiol) which are hydrophobic compounds. In the Sewage Treatment Plant (SWT)1 the sewage is treated by activated sludge process, in the second plant, SWT2, sewage is treated by upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors followed by dissolved air flotation, and in the third, SWT3 sewage is treated by stabilization lagoons. The first lagoon is 3.5 m deep, thus facultative and polishment processes occur. It was speculated that there was a difference in efficiency between the three plants in removing micropollutants. Small differences were found in the amounts removed, probably accounted for by retention time. The caffeine and bisphenol-A were almost completely removed, higher than 90% for both compounds (bisphenol-A and caffeine) in all WWTPs. The hormones, however, had a smaller rate of removal, between 70% and 87%. It is suspected that retention time is essential for removal efficiency, together with type of treatment. In fact, the hormones, caffeine, and bisphenol-A found in the environment definitely come from untreated sewage.     

厌氧/缺氧/好氧生物接触氧化处理低碳氮比污水的物料平衡

为了提高低碳氮比污水的治理效果,提出了厌氧/缺氧/好氧-生物接触氧化脱氮除磷工艺(anaerobic anoxic oxic-biological contact oxidation,A2/O-BCO),研究了该工艺处理生活污水的脱氮除磷性能,建立了该系统处理过程的碳(以化学需氧量计,chemical oxygen demand,COD)、氮、磷的物料衡算公式,同时分析评价了不同硝化液回流比(100%,200%,300%,400%)下各指标的物料平衡情况。结果表明,该工艺在充分利用原水碳源、深度脱氮除磷方面具有较强的优势,系统COD主要在A2/O中厌氧段被利用,通过反硝化聚磷菌反硝化除磷脱氮;系统COD的物料衡算公式平衡百分比分别为96.4%、99.6%、98.7%和98.3%,氮的物料衡算公式平衡百分比分别为99.7%、98.2%、99.2%和96.5%,磷的物料衡算公式平衡百分比分别为92.0%、98.1%、93.3%和90.4%;荧光原位杂交表明生物膜中有厌氧氨氧化菌存在,且其数量占全菌比例的0.6%~2.7%,生物接触氧化的氮损失可能是由于发生了厌氧氨氧化反应;在硝化液回流比为300%时,系统氮、磷去除效果最好,出水达到国家城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准一级A标准。该研究有助于更好地理解和分析工艺系统有机物、氮和磷的分布及变化情况,并且为评价试验数据的可靠性以及数学模型的建立提供了理论依据和指导,能更好地推广到分散型、量小且日变化系数较大的农村生活污水的治理事业中。     

Performance and Kinetic Study on Bioremediation of Diazo Dye (Reactive Black 5) in Wastewater Using Spent GAC–Biofilm Sequencing Batch Reactor

Combinations of sequential anaerobic and aerobic process enhance the treatment of textile wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment of diazo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5)-containing wastewater using granular activated carbon (GAC)–biofilm sequencing batch reactor (SBR) as an integration of aerobic and anaerobic process in a single reactor. The GAC–biofilm SBR system demonstrated higher removal of COD, RB5 and aromatic amines. It was observed that the RB5 removal efficiency improved as the concentration of co-substrate in the influent increased. The alternative aeration introduced into the bioreactor enhanced mineralization of aromatic amines. Degradation of RB5 and co-substrate followed second-order kinetic and the constant (k ₂) values for COD and RB5 decreased from 0.002 to 0.001 and 0.004 to 0.001 l/mg h, respectively, as the RB5 concentration increased from 100 to 200 mg/l in the GAC–biofilm SBR system.