Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Future perspectives of energy saving down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) technology for wastewater valorization—a review

  • Review paper
  • Published:
Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) process has been rigorously studied as a significant post-treatment of anaerobically pretreated sewage and later for broader applications in industrial wastewater and pre-settled sewage treatment. The DHS has several advantages over conventional wastewater treatment technologies, i.e., simple process control, less workforce requirement, less footprint, low construction, operation, and maintenance costs due to simple design and less mechanical parts. DHS technology requires no external aeration, which saves energy use and minimizes the associated costs. Low excess sludge yield in the DHS process adds to economic efficiency. DHS achieved high organics removal efficiency up to 99% with considerable nutrient and pathogen removals at extremely short HRT. Up-to-date, six DHS configurations have been developed and extensively tested at pilot scale applications under different operational conditions, i.e., HRTs, OLRs, and SRTs. Accordingly, the DHS module has successfully been translated into full-scale demonstration plants in Japan, India, Egypt, and Thailand. This paper comprehensively reviews the mechanism and development history of the DHS system. The process performance for municipal and industrial wastewaters treatment covers a broad range of parameters, i.e., organics, nutrients, pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) has been summarized. The unique feature of sludge reduction efficiency of DHS is comprehensively discussed. Moreover, the process microbiology, energy efficiency, emerging application of DHS for direct sewage treatment, pilot and full-scale experiences in the last 20 years are also reviewed. DHS technology has not yet being fully explored, mainly for nutrients removal, process modelling, optimization of wastewater and air flow configurations in DHS reactor, and biomass growth, which could help for further advancement in the process for better performance and wider applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Adapted from Nomoto et al. 2017), b Modified designs of sponge media (Okubo et al. 2017)

Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Source: Uemura et al. 2002)

Fig. 8

Source: Harada 2014)

Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ABR:

Anaerobic baffled reactor

ASP:

Activated sludge process

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

CSTR:

Completely stirred tank reactor

DHS:

Down-flow hanging sponge

FC:

Faecal coliform

HRT:

Hydraulic retention time

OLR:

Organic loading rate

PP:

Polishing pond

SRT:

Sludge residence time

TSS:

Total suspended solids

TC:

Total coliform

UASB:

Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket

USSB:

Up-flow staged sludge bed

VFA:

Volatile fatty acids

VLR:

Volumetric loading rate

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids

PUS:

Polyurethane sponge

TF:

Trickling filter

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

References

  • Ahammad SZ, Zealand A, Dolfing J, Mota C, Armstrong DV, Graham DW (2013) Low-energy teatment of colourant wastes using sponge biofilters for the personal care product industry. Bioresour Technol 129:634–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Araki N, Ohashi A, Machdar I, Harada H (1999) Behaviour of nitrifies in a novel biofilm reactor employing hanging sponge cubes as attached site. Water Sci Technol 39:23–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beas REY, Kujawa-Roeleveld K, Zeeman G, Van Lier JB (2015) A downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor for faecal coliform removal from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) effluent. Water Sci Technol 72:2034–2044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bundy CA, Wu D, Jong MC, Edwards SR, Ahammad ZS, Graham DW (2017) Enhanced denitrification in Downflow Hanging Sponge reactors for decentralised domestic wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 226:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao LTT, Kodera H, Abe K, Imachi H, Aoi Y, Kindaichi T, Ozaki N, Ohashi A (2015) Biological oxidation of Mn(II) coupled with nitrification for removal and recovery of minor metals by downflow hanging sponge reactor. Water Res 68:545–553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chernicharo CAL (2006) Post treatment options for the anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater. Rev Environ Sci Bio/Technol 5:73–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chuang HP, Ohashi A, Imachi H, Tandukar M, Harada H (2007a) Effective partial nitrification to nitrite by down flow hanging sponge reactor under limited oxygen condition. Water Res 41:295–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chuang HP, Imachi H, Tandukar M, Kawakami S, Harada H, Ohashi A (2007b) Microbial community that catalyzes partial nitrification at low oxygen atmosphere as revealed by 16S rRNA and amoA Genes. J Biosci Bioeng 104:525–528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chuang HP, Yamaguchi T, Harada H, Ohashi A (2008) Anoxic ammonium oxidation by application of a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor. Chemistry 18(6):409–417

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Kamah H, Tawfik A, Mahmoud M, Abdel-Halim H (2010) Treatment of high strength wastewater from fruit juice industry using integrated anaerobic/aerobic system. Desalination 253:158–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Kamah H, Mahmoud M, Tawfik A (2011) Performance of down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor coupled with up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for treatment of onion dehydration wastewater. Bioresour Technol 102:7029–7035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elsayed HA, Tawfik A (2017) Innovative Aerobic Technology for wastewater treatment for reuse in agriculture. In: Negm A (ed) Unconventional Water resources and agriculture in Egypt. The handbook of environmental chemistry, vol 75. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2017_47

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Loge FJ, Emerick RW, Ginn TR, Darby JL (2002a) Association of coliform bacteria with wastewater particles: impact of operational parameters of the activated sludge process. Water Res 36:41–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleifle A, Tawfik A, Saavedra OC, Elzeir M (2013) Treatment of agricultural drainage water via downflow hanging sponge system for reuse in agriculture. Water Supply 13(2):403–412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harada H (2014) UASB-DHS integrated system—a sustainable sewage treatment technology. In: International workshop on UASB-DHS integrated system—a sustainable sewage treatment technology, New Delhi-Agra, India

  • Hatamoto M, Kaneko T, Takimoto Y, Ito T, Miyazato N, Maki S, Yamaguchi T, Aoi T (2017) Microbial community structure and enumeration of Bacillus species in activated sludge. J Water Environ Technol 15:233–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatamoto M, Okubo T, Kubota K, Yamaguchi T (2018) Characterization of downflow hanging sponge reactors with regard to structure, process function, and microbial community compositions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102:10345–10352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes HA (1963) The ecology of wastewater treatment. Elsevier, p 214

    Google Scholar 

  • Ismail S, Tawfik A (2016) Treatment of hazardous landfill leachate using Fenton process followed by a combined (UASB/DHS) system. Water Sci Technol 73(7):1700–1708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karn SK, Harada H (1993) Field survey on water supply, sanitation and associated health impacts in urban poor communities-a case from Mumbai City. India Water Sci Technol 27:179–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan AA, Gaur RZ, Tyagi VK, Khursheed A, Lew B, Mehrotra I, Kazmi AA (2011) Sustainable option for post treatment of UASB effluent treating sewage: a review. Resour Conserv Recycl 55:1232–1251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi N, Oshiki M, Ito T, Segawa T, Hatamoto M, Kato T, Yamaguchi T, Kubota K, Takahashi M, Iguchi A, Tagawa T, Okubo T, Uemura S, Harada H, Totoyama T, Araki N, Sano D (2017) Removal of human pathogenic viruses in a DHS reactor treating municipal wastewater and health risk associated with utilization of the effluent for agricultural irrigation. Water Res 110:389–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kubota K, Hayashi M, Matsunaga K, Iguchi A, Ohashi A, Li YY, Yamaguchi T, Harada H (2014) Microbial community composition of a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor combined with an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of municipal sewage. Bioresour Technol 151:144–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loge FJ, Emerick RW, Ginn TR (2002b) Association of coliform bacteria with wastewater particles: impact of operational parameters of the activated sludge process. Water Res 36:41–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machdar I, Harada H, Ohashi A, Sekiguchi Y, Okui H, Ueki K (1997) A novel and cost-effective sewage treatment system consisting of UASB pre-treatment and aerobic post-treatment units for developing countries. Water Sci Technol 36(12):189–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machdar I, Onodera T, Syutsubo K, Ohashi A (2018) Effects of sponge pore-size on the performance of a down-flow hanging sponge reactor in post-treatment of effluent from an anaerobic reactor treating domestic wastewater. Sustain Environ Res 28:282–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maharjan N, Kuroda K, Dehama K, Hatamoto M, Yamaguchi T (2016) Development of slow sponge sand filter (SpSF) AS a post-treatment of UASB-DHS reactor effluent treating municipal wastewater. Water Sci Technol 74:65–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoud M, Tawfik A, El-Gohary F (2010) Simultaneous organic and nutrient removal in a naturally ventilated Bio-tower treating pre-settled municipal wastewater. J Environ Eng 136(3):301–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoud G, Zeeman H, Gijzen GL (2004a) Anaerobic stabilization and conversion of biopolymers in primary sludge. Effect of temperature and sludge residence time. Water Res 38:983–991

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoud M, Tawfik A, El-Gohary F (2011) Use of down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor as a promising post-treatment system for municipal wastewater. Chem Eng J 168:535–543

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoud M, Tawfik A, Samhan F, El-Gohary F (2009) Sewage treatment using an integrated system consisting of anaerobic hybrid reactor (AHR) and downflow hanging sponge (DHS). Desalin Water Treat 4:168–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyaoka Y, Hatamoto M, Yamaguchi T, Syutsubo K (2017) Eukaryotic community shift in response to organic loading rate of an aerobic trickling filter (down-flow hanging sponge reactor) treating domestic sewage. Microb Ecol 73:801–814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mungray AK, Murthy ZVP, Tirpude AJ (2010) Post treatment of Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket-based sewage treatment plant effluent: a review. Desalin Water Treat 22:220–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nnaji CC (2013) A review of the up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket rector. Desalin Water Treat 52:4122–4143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nomoto N, Ali M, Jayaswal K, Iguchi A, Hatamoto M, Okubo T, Takahashi M, Kubota K, Tagawa T, Uemura S, Yamaguchi T (2018a) Characteristics of DO, organic matter, and ammonium profile for practical-scale DHS reactor under various organic load and temperature conditions. Environ Technol 39(7):907–916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nomoto N, Hatamoto M, Hirakata Y, Ali M, Jayaswal K, Iguchi A, Okubo T, Takahashi M, Kubota K, Tagawa T, Uemura S, Yamaguchi T, Harada H (2018b) Defining microbial community composition and seasonal variation in a sewage treatment plant in India using a down-flow hanging sponge reactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102:4381–4392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nomoto N, Tyagi VK, Ali M, Jayswal K, Maharjan N, Iguchi A, Hatamoto M, Okubo T, Takahashi M, Kubota K, Tagawa T, Uemura S, Yamaguchi T, Harada H (2017) Application of DHS reactor to sewage treatment in a developing country: performance during start-up period and under high organic load condition. J Jpn Soc Water Environ 40:11–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nurmiyanto A, Ohashi A (2019) Downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor for wastewater treatment—a short review. In: METEC web of conferences, vol 280, p 05004. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201928005004

  • Okubo T, Iguchi A, Takahashi M, Kubota K, Uemura S, Harada H (2017) Treatment performance of practical-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor using sixth-generation hard sponge media. Desalin Water Treat 91:48–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okubo T, Kubota K, Yamaguchi T, Uemura S, Harada H (2016) Development of a new non-aeration-based sewage treatment technology: performance evaluation of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor employing third-generation sponge carriers. Water Res 102:138–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okubo T, Onodera T, Uemura S, Yamaguchi T, Ohashi A, Harada H (2015) On-site evaluation of the performance of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor as a post-treatment process of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor for treating sewage in India. Bioresour Technol 194:156–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Kanaya G, Syutsubo K, Miyaoka Y, Hatamoto M, Yamaguchi T (2015) Spatial changes in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of sludge and associated organisms in a biological sewage treatment system. Water Res 68:387–393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Matsunaga K, Kubota K, Taniguchi R, Harada H, Syutsubo K, Okubo T, Uemura S, Araki N, Yamada M, Yamauchi M, Yamaguchi T (2013a) Characterization of the retained sludge in a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor with emphasis on its low excess sludge production. Bioresour Technol 136:169–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Okubo T, Uemura S, Yamaguchi T, Ohashi A, Harada H (2016a) Long-term performance evaluation of down-flow hanging sponge reactor regarding nitrification in a full-scale experiment in India. Bioresour Technol 204:177–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Sase S, Choeisai P, Yoochatchaval W, Sumino H, Yamaguchi T, Ebie Y, Xu K, Tomioka N, Mizuochi M, Syutsubo K (2013b) Development of a treatment system for molasses wastewater: the effects of cation inhibition on the anaerobic degradation process. Bioresour Technol 131:295–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Takayama D, Ohashi A, Yamaguchi T, Uemura S, Harada H (2016b) Evaluation of the resilience of a full-scale down-flow hanging sponge reactor to long-term outages at a sewage treatment plant in India. J Environ Manage 181:832–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Tandukar M, Sugiyana D, Uemura S, Ohashi A, Harada H (2014a) Development of a sixth-generation down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor using rigid sponge media for post-treatment of UASB treating municipal sewage. Bioresour Technol 152:93–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onodera T, Yoochatchaval W, Sumino H, Mizuochi M, Okadera T, Fujita T, Banjongproo P, Syutsubo K (2014b) Pilot-scale experiment of down-flow hanging sponge for direct treatment of low-strength municipal wastewater in Bangkok. Thailand Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 37:2281–2287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oshiki M, Aizuka T, Netsu H, Oomori S, Nagano A, Yamaguchi T, Araki N (2020) Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal performance of a recirculating down-hanging sponge (DHS) reactor operated at 10 to 20 °C with activated carbon. Aquaculture 520:734–963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Racho P, Wichitsathian B, Jindal R (2008) Feasibility of low-cost posttreatment option for the anaerobic processes of tapioca starch wastewater: fungal DHS and Bacterial DHS system. In: 12th international conference on integrated diffuse pollution management (IWA DIPCON 2008)

  • Shahid BS, Rashid I, Mumtaz R (2018) Performance evaluation of UASB followed by DHS reactor treatment process and its cost in treating textile wastewater. In: Proceeding of the 4th international conference on civil engineering for sustainable development (ICCESD), KUET, Khulna, Bangladesh (ISBN-978-984-34-3502-6)

  • Takahashi M, Yamaguchi T, Kuramoto Y, Nagano A (2011) Performance of a pilot-scale sewage treatment: an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactors combined system by sulfur-redox reaction process under low-temperature conditions. Bioresour Technol 102:753–757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka H, Takahashi M, Yoneyama Y, Syutsubo K, Kato K, Nagano A, Yamaguchi T, Harada H (2012) Energy saving system with high effluent quality for municipal sewage treatment by UASB-DHS. Water Sci Technol 66:1186–1194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tandukar M, Ohashi A, Harada H (2007a) Performance comparison of a pilot scale UASB and DHS system and activated sludge process for the treatment of municipal wastewater. Water Res 41:2697–2705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tandukar M, Machdar I, Uemura S, Ohashi A, Harada H (2006) Potential of a combination of UASB and DHS reactor as a novel sewage treatment system for developing countries: long-term evaluation. J Environ Eng 132:166–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tandukar M, Ohashi A, Harada H (2007b) Performance comparison of a pilot-scale UASB and DHS system and activated sludge process for the treatment of municipal wastewater. Water Res 41(12):2697–2705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tandukar M, Uemura S, Machdar I, Ohashi A, Harada H (2005) A low-cost municipal sewage treatment system with a combination of UASB and the “fourth-generation” downflow hanging sponge reactors. Water Sci Technol 52:323–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanikawa D, Kataoka T, Hirakata Y, Hatamoto M, Yamaguchi T (2020) Pre-treatment and post-treatment systems for enhancing natural rubber industrial wastewater treatment. Process Saf Environ Prot 138:256–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanikawa D, Seo S, Motokawa D (2019) Development of a molasses wastewater treatment system equipped with a biological desulfurization process. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:24738–24748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanikawa D, Syutsubo K, Hatamoto M, Fukuda M, Takahashi M, Choeisai PK, Yamaguchi T (2016) Treatment of natural rubber processing wastewater using a combination system of a two-stage up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket and down-flow hanging sponge system. Water Sci Technol 73:1777–1784

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, El-Gohary F, Ohashi A, Harada H (2008a) Optimization of the performance of an integrated anaerobic-aerobic system for domestic wastewater treatment. Water Sci Technol 58(1):185–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, Wahaab RA, Al-Asmer A, Matary F (2011a) Optimization of DHS system treating Grey Wastewater for Reuse in Irrigation purposes. Int J Sustain Water Environ Syst 3:13–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, El-Gohary F, Ohashi A, Harada H (2006a) The influence of physical–chemical and biological factors on the removal of faecal coliform through down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) system treating UASB reactor effluent. Water Res 40(9):1877–1883

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, El-Gohary F, Ohashi A, Harada H (2008b) Optimization of the performance of an integrated anaerobic-aerobic system for domestic wastewater treatment. Water Sci Technol 58:185–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, El-Gohary F, Ohashi A, Harada H (2008c) Optimization of the performance of an integrated anaerobic-aerobic system for domestic wastewater treatment. Water Sci Technol 58:185–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, El-Zamel T, Herrawy A, El-Taweel G (2015) Fate of parasites and pathogenic bacteria in an anaerobic hybrid reactor followed by downflow hanging sponge system treating domestic wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:12235–12245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, Klapwijk B, Van Buuren J, El-Gohary F, Lettinga G (2004) Physico-chemical factors affecting the E. coli removal in a rotating biological contactor (RBC) treating UASB effluent. Water Res 38(5):1081–1088

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, Ohashi A, Harada H (2006b) Sewage treatment in a combined up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)–down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) system. Biochem Eng J 29(3):210–219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, Ohashi A, Harada H (2010) Effect of sponge volume on the performance of down-flow hanging sponge system treating UASB reactor effluent. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 33:779–785

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, Wahab RA, Al-Asmer A, Matary F (2011b) Effect of hydraulic retention time on the performance of down-flow hanging sponge system treating grey wastewater. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 34:767–776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tawfik A, Zaki D, Zahran M (2014) Use of sequential UASB/DHS processes for the decolorization of reactive dyes wastewater. Sustain Environ Res 24:129–138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uemura S, Suzuki S, Maruyama Y, Harada H (2012) Direct treatment of settled sewage by DHS reactors with different sizes of sponge support media. Int J Environ Res 6(1):25–32

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uemura S, Harada H (2010) Application of UASB technology for sewage treatment with a novel post-treatment process. In: Fang HHP (ed) Environmental anaerobic technology applications and new developments. Imperial College Press, London, pp 91–112

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Umera S, Takahashi A, Machdar I, Ohashi A, Harada H (2002) Removal of indigenous coliphages and fecal coliforms by a novel sewage treatment system consisting of UASB and DHS units. Water Sci Technol 46:303–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watari T, Mai TC, Tanikawa D, Hirakata Y, Hatamoto M, Syutsubo K, Fukuda M, Nguyen NB, Yamaguchi T (2017a) Performance evaluation of the pilot scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-DHS sponge system for natural rubber processing wastewater treatment in South Vietnam. Bioresour Technol 237:204–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watari T, Mai TC, Tanikawa D, Hirakata Y, Hatamoto M, Syutsubo K, Fukuda M, Nguyen NB, Yamaguchi T (2017b) Development of downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor as post treatment of existing combined anaerobic tank treating natural rubber processing wastewater. Water Sci Technol 75:57–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watari T, Thanh NT, Tsuruoka N, Taniwaka D, Kuroda K, Huong NL, Tan NT, Hai HT, Hatamoto M, Syutsubo K, Fukuda M, Yamaguchi T (2016) Development of a BR-UASB-DHS system for natural rubber processing wastewater treatment. Environ Technol 37(4):459–465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2017) World health organization process on Drinking water, Sanitation and Hygiene, pp 1–66

  • Wichitsathian B, Racho P (2010) Quantification of organic and nitrogen removal in downflow hanging sponge (DHS) systems as a post-treatment of UASB effluent. Water Sci Technol 62:2121–2127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi T, Bungo Y, Takahashi M, Sumino H, Nagono A, Araki N, Imai T, Yamazaki S, Harada H (2006) Low strength wastewater treatment under low temperature conditions by a novel sulfur redox action process. Water Sci Technol 53:99–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoochatchaval W, Onodera T, Sumino H, Yamaguchi T, Mizuochi M, Okadera T, Syutsubo K (2014) Development of a down-flow hanging sponge reactor for the treatment of low strength sewage. Water Sci Technol 70:656–663. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Shao M-F, Ye L (2011) 454 pyrosequencing reveals bacterial diversity of activated sludge from 14 sewage treatment plants. ISME J 6:1137–1147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Authors are thankful to Department of Biotechnology-GoI (Grant No. BT/RLF/Re-entry/12/2016) for financial support to this research. We acknowledge the funding agent (STIFA), Egypt for supporting this work (Project ID: 26271).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biotechnology Group (EBiTG), Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

    Vinay Kumar Tyagi, Muntjeer Ali & A. A. Kazmi

  2. Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, El-Behooth St, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt

    Ahmed Tawfik

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College, 888 Nishikatakai, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-8532, Japan

    Namita Maharjan

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kisarazu College, 2-11-1 Kiyomidaihigashi, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0041, Japan

    Tsutomu Okubo

  5. New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University, 6-6-04 Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan

    Hideki Harada

Authors
  1. Vinay Kumar Tyagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muntjeer Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahmed Tawfik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Namita Maharjan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. A. Kazmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tsutomu Okubo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hideki Harada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vinay Kumar Tyagi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that we have no conflict of interest with any individual and any organization.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Vinay Kumar Tyagi and Muntjeer Ali contributed equally to this work thus shared joint first authorship.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tyagi, V.K., Ali, M., Tawfik, A. et al. Future perspectives of energy saving down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) technology for wastewater valorization—a review. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 20, 389–418 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-021-09573-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-021-09573-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation