Search
dr inż. Przemysław Kowal
Employment
- Assistant professor at Department of Sanitary Engineering
- Technolog systemów uzdatniania wody w Promat-Woda sp. z o.o. at X
- Asystent w Katedra Technologii Wody i Ścieków, Politechnika Gdańska at Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Publications
Filters
total: 48
Catalog Publications
-
The occurrence and role of Nitrospira in nitrogen removal systems
PublicationApplication of the modern microbial techniques changed the paradigm about the microorganisms performing nitrification. Numerous investigations recognized representatives of the genus Nitrospira as a key and predominant nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in biological nutrient removal systems, especially under low dissolved oxygen and substrate conditions. The recent discovery of Nitrospira capable of performing complete ammonia oxidation...
-
Municipal landfill leachate nitrification in RBC biofilm – Process efficiency and molecular analysis of microbial structure
Publication -
Optimization of the Aeration Strategies in a Deammonification Sequencing Batch Reactor for Efficient Nitrogen Removal and Mitigation of N2O Production
PublicationIn deammonification systems, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) suppression and nitrous oxide (N2O) mitigation are two important operational objectives. To carry out this multivariable analysis of response, a comprehensive model for the N cycle was developed and evaluated against experimental data from a laboratory-scale deammonification granular sludge sequencing batch reactor. Different aeration strategies were tested, and the manipulated...
-
Long-term performance and microbial characteristics of the anammox-enriched granular sludge cultivated in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor
PublicationThe anammox-enriched granular sludge was successfully formed during the long-term biogranulation experiment lasting over 330 days. The cultivation was conducted at 30 ◦C in a 10-L sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with synthetic medium containing ammonia, nitrite and trace elements. The properties of the developed granules were investigated in terms of the biomass activity (including the growth rate of anammox bacteria), size...
-
Ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis as a tool for monitoring methanogenic archaea changes in an anaerobic digester
PublicationThe applicability of a newly-designed PCR primer pair in examination of methanogenic Archaea in a digester treating plant biomass was evaluated by Ribosmal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (RISA). To find a suitable approach, three variants of RISA were tested: (1) standard, polyacrylamide gel-based, (2) automated, utilized capillary electrophoresis (GA-ARISA), and (3) automated microfluidics-based (MF-ARISA). All three techniques yielded...
-
Application of a hybrid mechanistic/machine learning model for prediction of nitrous oxide (N2O) production in a nitrifying sequencing batch reactor
PublicationNitrous oxide (N2O) is a key parameter for evaluating the greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants. In this study, a new method for predicting liquid N2O production during nitrification was developed based on a mechanistic model and machine learning (ML) algorithm. The mechanistic model was first used for simulation of two 15-day experimental trials in a nitrifying sequencing batch reactor. Then, model predictions...
-
Evaluation of Partial Nitritation/Anammox (PN/A) Process Performance and Microorganisms Community Composition under Different C/N Ratio
PublicationA one-stage partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) process with intermittent aeration is possible under sidestream conditions, but implementation in a mainstream is a challenge due to increased Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) ratios in domestic wastewater. This study investigated the effect of C/N ratios on process efficiency and the effect of narrowing non-aeration time on process improvement at high chemical oxygen demand (COD) load. An increase...
-
Development of Strategies for AOB and NOB Competition Supported by Mathematical Modeling in Terms of Successful Deammonification Implementation for Energy-Efficient WWTPs
PublicationNovel technologies such as partial nitritation (PN) and partial denitritation (PDN) could be combined with the anammox-based process in order to alleviate energy input. The former combination, also noted as deammonification, has been intensively studied in a frame of lab and full-scale wastewater treatment in order to optimize operational costs and process efficiency. For the deammonification process, key functional microbes include...
-
Achieving Efficient and Stable Deammonification at Low Temperatures—Experimental and Modeling Studies
PublicationThe short-term effects of temperature on deammonification sludge were evaluated in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Mathematical modeling was used for further evaluations of different intermittent aeration strategies for achieving high and stable deammonification performance at decreasing temperatures. As for the biomass cultivated at high temperatures (e.g., 30 C), a higher temperature dependency (the adjusted...
-
Mutual Interaction between Temperature and DO Set Point on AOB and NOB Activity during Shortcut Nitrification in a Sequencing Batch Reactor in Terms of Energy Consumption Optimization
PublicationRecently, many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have had to deal with serious problems related to the restrictive requirements regarding the euent quality, as well as significant energy consumption associated with it. In this situation, mainstream deammonification and/or shortened nitrification-denitrification via nitrite (so-called “nitrite shunt”) is a new promising strategy. This study shows the mechanisms and operating conditions...
-
Incorporation of the complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) process for modeling nitrification in suspended growth wastewater treatment systems
PublicationThe newly discovered process complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) has changed the traditional under-standing of nitrification. In this study, three possible concepts of comammox were developed and incorporated as part of an extended two-step nitrification model. For model calibration and validation, two series of long-term biomass washout experiments were carried out at 12 ◦C and 20 ◦C in a laboratory sequencing batch reactor....
-
Characterization of bacterial structures in two-stage moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) during nitrification of the landfill leachate
Publication -
Integration of the sulfate reduction and anammox processes for enhancing sustainable nitrogen removal in granular sludge reactors
PublicationThe Anammox and Sulfate Reduction Ammonium Oxidation processes were compared in two granular sequencing batch reactors operated for 160 days under anammox conditions. It was hypothesized that increasing the concentration of SO42− may positively influence the rate of N removal under anaerobic conditions and it was tested whether SO42− reduction and anammox occur independently or are related to each other. The cooperation of N-S...
-
Effect of Individual Components of Lignocellulosic Biomass on Methane Production and Methanogen Community Structure
PublicationOne of the major factors that influences the economic feasibility of biogas production is the availability of digestible feedstocks. There is little research on the influence of the chemical composition of biomass on biogas synthesis, especially with regard to the content of lignocellulosic materials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate how differences in the content of cellulose and lignin in lignocellulosic biomass...
-
Band engineering of BiOBr based materials for photocatalytic wastewater treatment via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) – A review
PublicationSemiconductor based photocatalysts have been an efficient technology for water and wastewater remediation, addressing the concepts of green chemistry and sustainable development. Owing to narrow and suitable band structure, BiOBr is a promising candidate for efficient wastewater treatment via photocatalysis. Enhancement of photocatalytic properties can be obtained by various techniques like doping, element rich strategy, facet...
-
Assessment of diversity and composition of bacterial community in Sludge Treatment Reed Bed systems
PublicationDue to their low emission of odours and lack of the need to apply additional chemical agents, sludge treatment reed beds (STRBs) constitute an economically feasible and eco-friendly approach to sewage sludge management. Correctly designed and operated STRBs ensure effective reduction of the dry matter content coupled with the mineralisation of organic compounds. Successful operation of STRBs relies on complex interactions between...
-
New insights into modeling two-step nitrification in activated sludge systems – The effects of initial biomass concentrations, comammox and heterotrophic activities
PublicationIn this study, the conventional two-step nitrification model was extended with complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) and heterotrophic denitrification on soluble microbial products. The data for model calibration/validation were collected at four long-term washout experiments when the solid retention time (SRT) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) were progressively reduced from 4 d to 1 d, with mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)...
-
Modelling AOB-NOB competition in shortcut nitrification compared with conventional nitrification-denitrification process
PublicationIn particular, mainstream deammonification and/or shortened nitrificationdenitrification via nitrite (so-called “nitrite shunt”) is a promising new treatment concept that has the potential to revolutionise how nitrogen removal is achieved at WWTPs. Understanding the role of the AOB/NOB competition in the nitrogen cycle in wastewater treatment systems will change operational strategies of the novel nitrogen removal processes. The...
-
Anthropogenic trace metals in Setiu Wetland: Spatial and seasonal distribution and implications for environmental health
PublicationThe growing urban wastewater volume poses a major global environmental challenge, especially in developing nations where inadequate treatment and discharge impact clean water availability. This study focused on Setiu Wetland, aiming to analyze seasonal and spatial variations of trace metals in particulate form from anthropogenic and pathogenic sources. Surface water samples were collected from multiple stations, measuring physical...
-
The metabolic activity of denitrifying microorganisms accumulating polyphosphate in response to addition of fusel oil
PublicationThe effect of distillery waste product (fusel oil) as an alternative external organic carbon source (EOCS) was investigated in terms of the metabolic properties of denitrifying polyphosphate accumulating organisms (DPAOs). Samples of the non-acclimated biomass were collected from a local full-scale wastewater treatment plant employing A2/O type bioreactors. The acclimated biomass was obtained after cultivation (with fusel oil added)...
-
Mechanochemically synthesized Mn3O4@β-cyclodextrin mediates efficient electron transfer process for peroxymonosulfate activation
PublicationThe rational surface engineering of heterogeneous catalysts is of great significance in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for eliminating refractory contaminants but remains challenging. In this study, β-cyclodextrin modified Mn3O4 (Mn3O4@β-CD) was prepared through a mechanochemical approach for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, which achieved efficient bisphenol A (BPA) removal via electron transfer process (ETP). The reactive...
-
ADAPTATION OF THE ACTIVATED SLUDGE TO THE DIGESTATE LIQUORS DURING THE NITRIFICATION AND DENITRIFICATION PROCESSES
PublicationThe activated sludge process of the digestate liquors after chemical separation was conducted using a 10 L lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and a 0.50 m3 pilotscale SBR independently (with pH control). Due to the relatively high concentration of free ammonia (FA), clear inhibitory effects of the digestate liquors on the nitrifying bacteria were observed. The adaptation of the activated sludge to the toxicity was evaluated...
-
The coexistence and competition of canonical and comammox nitrite oxidizing bacteria in a nitrifying activated sludge system – Experimental observations and simulation studies
PublicationThe second step of nitrification can be mediated by nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), i.e. Nitrospira and Nitrobacter, with different characteristics in terms of the r/K theory. In this study, an activated sludge model was developed to account for competition between two groups of canonical NOB and comammox bacteria. Heterotrophic denitrification on soluble microbial products was also incorporated into the model. Four 5-week washout...
-
Rearrangements of the nitrifiers population in an activated sludge system under decreasing solids retention times
PublicationDue to the key role of nitrite in novel nitrogen removal systems, nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) have been receiving increasing attention. In this study, the coexistence and interactions of nitrifying bacteria were explored at decreasing solids retention times (SRTs). Four 5-week washout experiments were carried out in laboratory-scale (V=10 L) sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with mixed liquor from two full-scale activated sludge...
-
Monitoring Lead Concentration in the Surrounding Environmental Components of a Lead Battery Company: Plants, Air and Effluents—Case Study, Kenya
PublicationLead (Pb) pollution from smelters and lead–acid battery has become a serious problem worldwide owing to its toxic nature as a heavy metal. Stricter regulations and monitoring strategies have been formulated, legislated and implemented in various parts of the world on heavy metal usage. Developed countries such as the USA and in Europe largely operate within the set standards, however, developing countries such as Kenya, Nigeria...
-
Assessment of Sewage Molecular Markers: Linear Alkylbenzenes in Sediments of an Industrialized Region in Peninsular Malaysia
PublicationIn this study, the use of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) was employed to pinpoint the sources of human activity that cause detrimental impacts on the coastal environment and river ecosystems. LABs were detected using GC–MS in sediment samples assembled from Kim Kim River (KKR) and the Port Dickson coast (PDC). To assess the significance of variations in the distribution and concentrations of LABs across the sampling sites, this study...
-
Integrated model for the fast assessment of flood volume: Modelling – management, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
PublicationThe specific flood volume is an important criterion for assessing the performance of sewage networks. It has been shown that its value is greatly influenced by the layout of the sewers in the catchment area, which is usually expressed by a fractal dimension. Currently, only mechanistic models (such as SWMM) enable the determination of the impact of the layout of the sewers on flooding volume, but they require additional and robust...
-
The Occurrence and Role of Tetrasphaera in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Systems
PublicationThe application of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has commonly been utilized worldwide. However, the optimum efficiency has not been realized over the past decades, prompting many studies and publications. The limitations, especially comprehension of the abundance and actual potential of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), are not fully understood. Recently identified...
-
Denitrification Process Enhancement and Diversity of the Denitrifying Community in the Full Scale Activated Sludge System after Adaptation to Fusel Oil
PublicationImplementation of anaerobic digestion of primary sludge in modern wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) limits the availability of organic carbon for denitrification in conventional nitrification-denitrification (N/DN) systems. In order to ensure efficient denitrification, dosage of the external carbon source is commonly undertaken. However, application of commercial products, such us ethanol or acetate, greatly increases operational...
-
Possibilities of Leachate Co-Treatment Originating from Biogas Production in the Deammonification Process
PublicationIn the methane fermentation process, sewage sludge is the single substrate or serves as a co-substrate with the addition of various waste products. After the treatment stable digestate is obtained, which consists of two phases solid and liquid. Liquid phase, called as a leachate, due to the high content of nutrients must be treated before they are discharged into the final receiver. Physical and chemical methods of leachate treatment...
-
The role of the combined nitrogen-sulfur-carbon cycles for efficient performance of anammox-based systems
PublicationThe combined anammox/mixotrophic denitrification process was conducted in two granular sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) during a 200-day operation. Both reactors were fed with synthetic medium, but SBR2 was enriched with additional sulfate (SO4 2 ) which influenced sulfate reduction ammonium oxidation (SRAO) and heterotrophic reduction of SO4 2 by sulfate reducing bacteria. It was hypothesized that the addition of SO4 2 could...
-
Maximizing Bio-Hydrogen and Energy Yields Obtained in a Self-Fermented Anaerobic Bioreactor by Screening of Different Sewage Sludge Pretreatment Methods
PublicationEgypt faces significant challenges in managing its sewage sludge generated in large quantities from wastewater treatment plants. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing sewage sludge as a renewable resource for hydrogen production through anaerobic digestion at the 100 L bioreactor level. Hydrogen is considered a promising alternative energy source due to its high energy content and environmental benefits. To optimize...
-
Badanie skuteczności dezynfekcji ścieków
PublicationAktualne przepisy prawne regulują jakość odpływów z komunalnych oczyszczalni ścieków jedynie w aspekcie cech fizykochemicznych (stężenie zawiesiny, substancji organicznych i związków biogennych). Jakość mikrobiologiczna ścieków nie jest monitorowana, choć odpływy z oczyszczalni mogą stanowić istotny rezerwuar bakterii chorobotwórczych przenoszonych drogą wodną i stanowiących zagrożenie dla zdrowia i życia ludzi (Rozdz.2). Ponadto,...
-
The Relationship between Gene Activity and Nitrous Oxide Production during Nitrification in Activated Sludge Systems
PublicationNitrite is an important factor which inhibits the first stage of the nitrification, the effect is stronger with the decrease of the DO concentrations. NO2- presence at concentration above 15 mg N – NO2 in the aeration tanks stimulates N2O production regardless of the DO concentration. The significant nirS gene induction, observed especially during the experiments with the nitrite addition indicates that N2O production is basically...
-
cDNA fingerprint from the hepatopancreatic glands of pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene
PublicationIdentification of differentially expressed genes that could be potentially used as biomarkers of PAH exposure of common invertebrate animal (like freshwater snail) would be a valuable resource for investigators interested in toxicology and biomonitoring of aquatic environments. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate effects of waterborne benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure on mRNA expression in the pond snail’s (Lymnaea...
-
A Comparison of the Efficiency of Deammonification under Different Aeration Strategies in a Laboratory-Scale Sequencing Batch Reactor
PublicationAn important source of nitrogen load entering the biological part of wastewater treatment plants (WWPTs) is derived from the anaerobic sludge digestion processes. Sludge digestion liquors constitute only 1-2% of the inflow to the plant, but the load of nitrogen directed with them to the main stream may be as high as 10-20% of the total nitrogen load. Therefore, numerous studies have focused on treatment of sludge digestion liquors...
-
Inhibition effect of free ammonia on deammonification process under different intermittent aeration strategies in sequencing batch reactor
PublicationThe deammonification process involves two steps. The first step is the partial nitrification of ammonia (NH4-N) by ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to produce nitrite (NO2-N) and the second step is the anammox process to “anaerobically” oxidize ammonia to nitrogen gas with nitrite as an electron acceptor (Lackner et al., 2014). Free ammonia (FA) plays a significant role in the stable, long-term deammonification system operation....
-
Improving the energy balance in wastewater treatment plants by optimization of aeration control and application of new technologies
PublicationThe methods to improve the energy balance of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) by optimization of aeration process control and application of innovative nitrogen removal technologies were overviewed in the study. The control of aeration based on the ABAC (Ammonia-Based Aeration Control) system allows not only for significant savings in electricity consumption, but it can also increase the efficiency of the denitrification process....
-
Możliwości dezynfekcji biologicznie oczyszczonych ścieków na przykładzie oczyszczalni ścieków "Wschód" w Gdańsku
PublicationWyniki badań dezynfekcji biologicznie oczyszczonych ścieków z oczyszczalni "Wschód" w Gdańsku. Badania z wykorzystaniem trzech technologii dezynfekcji: ozonowania, promieniowania UV oraz mikrofiltracji. Rola badań kontrolnych.
-
Opracowanie koncepcji modernizacji komunalnej oczyszczalni ścieków w Starogardzie Gdańskim
PublicationOpracowanie zawiera analizę i ocenę stanu istniejącego, opis badań i pomiarów, budowę i kalibrację modelu komputerowego, analizę wariantową koncepcji modernizacji oczyszczalni ze wskazaniem potencjalnych kierunków zagospodarowania osadów ściekowych, uwzględniającą fermentację beztlenową własnych osadów ściekowych oraz zagospodarowanie osadów z innych oczyszczalni komunalnych i kofermentację substratów zewnętrznych.
-
Odwadnianie pofermentu w wirówce sedymentacyjnej
PublicationZbadano przebieg odwadniania pofermentu z wykorzystaniem siarczanu żelaza (III) oraz polielektrolitu kationowego poliakrylamidu. Efektywność procesu odwadniania oceniono na podstawie zmian wartości chemicznego zapotrzebowania na tlen dla cieczy nadosadowej. Badano też zawartość fosforu oraz azotu ogólnego. Mając na uwadze odzysk fosforu oraz azotu z cieczy nadosadowej flokulację przeprowadzono za pomocą polieletrolitów kationowych....
-
Ocena możliwości dezynfekcji biologicznie oczyszczonych ścieków na przykładzie Grupowej Oczyszczalni Ścieków "Dębogórze" w Gdyni
PublicationPraca przedstawia wyniki badań dezynfekcji biologicznie oczyszczonych ścieków z Grupowej Oczyszczalni Ścieków "Dębogórze w Gdyni. Badania przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem trzech technologii dezynfekcji: ozonowania, promieniowania UV oraz mikrofiltracji. Wszystkie z metod wykazały się wysoką skuteczność dezynfekcji ścieków. O konkretnym wyborze powinny decydować względy ekonomiczne. Podkreślono jednocześnie rolę badań kontrolnych,...
-
Optymalizacja podczyszczania odcieków i ścieków
PublicationIstnieje kilka metod dedykowanych podczyszczaniu odcieków składowiskowych i ścieków technologicznych. Jakie są wady i zalety niektórych z nich? Które mogą oznaczać większy wydatek dla przedsiębiorstw, a które mogą przynieść im korzyści?
-
Aktualne trendy i rekomendacje w zakresie usuwania mikrozanieczyszczeń należących do farmaceutyków i pestycydów ze ścieków komunalnych
PublicationMikrozanieczyszczenia, przede wszystkim pestycydy oraz farmaceutyki, zyskują coraz większe zainteresowanie zarówno ze strony środowiska naukowego, administracji publicznej, jak również międzynarodowych organizacji rządowych i pozarządowych. W ostatnich latach jest obserwowany stały wzrost stężeń mikrozanieczyszczeń zarówno w glebie, jak i środowisku wodnym. Szczególne zagrożenie płynące ze strony pestycydów i farmaceutyków wynika...
-
Advances in analysis, quantification and modelling of N2O emission in SBRs under various DO set points
PublicationNitrous oxide (N2O), considered a major greenhouse gas (GHG) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), is produced during both nitrification and denitrification processes; hence, it needs to be controlled by internal and external strategies. Various factors, such as DO, temperature, and pH, could be incorporated into the mitigation of emissions in WWTPs. In this research, potential operational strategies were investigated in order...
-
An advanced tool integrating failure and sensitivity analysis into novel modeling of the stormwater flood volume
PublicationAn innovative tool for modeling the specific flood volume was presented that can be applied to assess the need for stormwater network modernization as well as for advanced flood risk assessment. Field measurements for a catchment area in Kielce, Poland, were used to apply the model and demonstrate its usefulness. This model extends the capability of recently developed statistical and machine learning hydrodynamic models developed...
-
Application of Multinomial Logistic Regression to Model the Impact of Rainfall Genesis on the Performance of Storm Overflows: Case Study
PublicationIn this study, a mathematical model was proposed to analyze the performance of storm overfows. The model included the infuence of rainfall genesis on the duration of storm overfow, its volume, and the maximum instantaneous fow. The multinomial logistic regression model, which has not been used so far to model objects located in a stormwater system, was proposed to simulate the duration of storm overfow. The Iman–Conover method,...
-
MODELOWA GOSPODARKA OSADOWA W OCZYSZCZALNI ŚCIEKÓW ZORIENTOWANA NA ZWIĘKSZENIE PRODUKCJI ENERGII ODNAWIALNEJ I ODZYSK ZWIĄZKÓW BIOGENNYCH
PublicationOczyszczalnie ścieków poddawane są stopniowej zmianie paradygmatów. Początkowo kładziono nacisk na cel podstawowy – oczyszczanie ścieków i zwiększenie wymagań w stosunku do jakości ścieków oczyszczonych odprowadzanych do odbiorników. Poprawa efektywności energetycznej aż po uzyskanie samowystarczalności energetycznej stanowiła kolejny trend budzący zainteresowanie ze względu na korzyści ekonomiczne wynikające z oszczędności w zakupie...
seen 2424 times