Nutrient Removal in Small Wastewater Treatment Plants

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Niels Skov Olesen

In some areas of Denmark nutrient removal is required even for very small wastewater plants, that is down to 500 pe (pe = person equivalents). The goal for the removal is 80% removal of nitrogen and 90% removal of phosphorus, or in terms of concentrations: 8 mg nitrogen/l and 1.2 mg phosphorus/l. The inlet concentrations are typically 40 mg N/l and 10 mg P/l. The paper presents the results from two such plants with a capacity of 800 pe. Phosphorus removal is made by simultaneous precipitation with ferrous sulphate. Nitrogen removal is carried out using the recirculation method. Both plants were originally rotor aerated oxidation ditches. They have been extended with a denitrification reactor and a recirculation pumping station. At present both plants have been in activity for about 3 years and with satisfactory results. Average concentrations of nitrogen (summer) and phosphorus is 7 mg/l and 0.9 mg/l respectively. Nitrogen removal seems to be a practical solution on these small plants. It is,though, sensitive to temperature and highly oxidized rain water. Phosphorus removal seems to be an easily run and relatively non-sensitive technique at least when using simultaneous precipitation.

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1481-1489 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Barat ◽  
J. Serralta ◽  
M. V. Ruano ◽  
E. Jiménez ◽  
J. Ribes ◽  
...  

This paper presents the plant-wide model Biological Nutrient Removal Model No. 2 (BNRM2). Since nitrite was not considered in the BNRM1, and this previous model also failed to accurately simulate the anaerobic digestion because precipitation processes were not considered, an extension of BNRM1 has been developed. This extension comprises all the components and processes required to simulate nitrogen removal via nitrite and the formation of the solids most likely to precipitate in anaerobic digesters. The solids considered in BNRM2 are: struvite, amorphous calcium phosphate, hidroxyapatite, newberite, vivianite, strengite, variscite, and calcium carbonate. With regard to nitrogen removal via nitrite, apart from nitrite oxidizing bacteria two groups of ammonium oxidizing organisms (AOO) have been considered since different sets of kinetic parameters have been reported for the AOO present in activated sludge systems and SHARON (Single reactor system for High activity Ammonium Removal Over Nitrite) reactors. Due to the new processes considered, BNRM2 allows an accurate prediction of wastewater treatment plant performance in wider environmental and operating conditions.


2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Wandl ◽  
H. Kroiss ◽  
K. Svardal

Two-stage activated sludge plants succeed in stable treatment efficiency concerning carbon removal and nitrification with far less reactor tank volume than conventional single stage systems. In case of large treatment plants this fact is of great economic relevance. Because of the very small specific volume of these two-stage treatment plants in comparison with low loaded single-stage plants, internal cycles have to be applied to ensure sufficient nitrogen removal. Due to these internal cycles two stage activated sludge plants offer many possibilities in terms of process management which results in new process optimisation procedures as compared to conventional single-stage nutrient removal treatment plants. The proposed extension concept for the Main Treatment Plant of Vienna was validated with pilot plant investigations especially with regard to nitrogen removal where it proved to comply with the legal requirements. The operation of the treatment plant can easily be adapted to changes in temperature and sludge volume index occurring in full scale practice. Sludge retention time and aerobic volume in the second stage are controlled in order to secure sufficient nitrification capacity and to optimise nitrogen removal by means of the variation of the loading conditions for the two stages. The investigations confirmed that the specific two-stage activated sludge concept applied in Vienna is an economically advantageous alternative for large wastewater treatment plants with stringent requirements for nitrification and nutrient removal.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 127-134
Author(s):  
David Solley ◽  
Keith Barr

Brisbane Water has undertaken an investigation into low cost options to imprrove the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus for two of its wastewater treatment plants. Luggage Point Stage 2 (300,000 e.p.) is a conventional activated sludge plant designed for nitrification. Gibson Island (150,000 e.p.) is an extended aeration activated sludge plant designed for nitrogen removal to less than 10 mgTN/l. Extensive modelling and plant simulation were carried out to evaluate the potential of various modified operational modes before the most promising modes were trialed on the full scale plants. Operational trials are proceeding well and improved nitrogen removal to less than 3 mgTN/l for Gibson Island and to less than 10 mgTN/l for Luggage Point have been achieved. Improved phosphorus removal has also been achieved for periods at both plants (less than 4 mgTP/L for Luggage Point and less than 2.5 mgTP/l at Gibson Island). However, phosphorus removal has not been consistent and trials are ongoing to determine the sustainable level of phosphorus removal for these plants. The conclusion of the trials to date is that operational strategies can be implemented for these plants to effect the removal of substantial quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus for a minimum of capital cost. This paper presents the results of the various operational strategies that have been trialed and implemented for both plants. When considering the upgrading of a plant for improved nutrient removal, the principle of “Optimise What You Have First” can sometimes produce surprisingly high nutrient removal levels for a very modest capital expenditure.


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Rolf ◽  
F. Grabowski ◽  
M. Burde

Nutrient removal in small wastewater treatment plants is often beneficial especially if the effluent must be discharged into sensitive or guarded waters or into groundwater. The presented studies optimised an inexpensive method of subsequent enhanced wastewater treatment. The developed reactor is similar to a concentrated subsoil passage. The fixed bed reactor is divided in two sections to achieve aerobic and anoxic conditions for nitrification/denitrification processes. To enhance phosphorus removal, ferrous particles are addedto the aerobic zone. Two series of column tests were carried out and a technical pilot plant was built to verify the efficiency of the process. The results show that this method can be implemented successfully. The aerobic processes, nitrification and phosphorus removal by absorption, were not problematic. Elimination rates higher than 90 % were measured. The capacity of phosphorus removal is principally limited. After consumption of the ferric ions the reactor filling must be renewed. Denitrification strongly depends on the availability of a degradable organic substrate. To balance the substrate load and the nitrate flow a simple device was created. Weekly monitoring of the BOD and nitrate effluent concentration seems to be sufficient to find an appropriate adjustment. A technical-scale pilot plant was built and the first test drives have been started.


1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garba Laouali ◽  
Jacques Brisson ◽  
Linda Dumont ◽  
Gilles Vincent

Abstract During the last decades, there has been a growing concern over phosphorus and nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment systems. Excessive loads of these nutrients have been implicated in the eutrophication of water courses. Although effectiveness of constructed reed beds for primary and secondary wastewater treatments is well established, their capacity for nutrient removal is not as well documented, especially under northern temperate climates. We monitored nutrient removal in the experimental reed bed wastewater treatment of the Biosphère de Montréal, a museum entirely devoted to the important role of water in the ecosystem. Over the first 2 years of operation, nutrient removal during plant growing season averaged 60% for total nitrogen, 53% for Kjeldahl nitrogen, 73% for total phosphorus and 94% for phosphate. Removal remains acceptable in winter despite a slight decrease in efficiency. Nitrification-deni-trification appears to be the main mechanism responsible for nitrogen removal, while precipitation and adsorption account for most of the phosphorus removal.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rabinowitz ◽  
T. D. Vassos ◽  
R. N. Dawson ◽  
W. K. Oldham

A brief review of recent developments in biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal technology is presented. Guidelines are outlined of how current understanding of these two removal mechanisms can be applied in the upgrading of existing wastewater treatment plants for biological nutrient removal. A case history dealing with the upgrading of the conventional activated sludge process located at Penticton, British Columbia, to a biological nutrient removal facility with a design flow of 18,200 m3/day (4.0 IMGD) is presented as a design example. Process components requiring major modification were the headworks, bioreactors and sludge handling facilities.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibeke R. Borregaard

In the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants to include biological nutrient removal the space available is often a limiting facor. It may be difficult to use conventional suspended growth processes (i.e. activated sludge) owing to the relatively large surface area required for these processes. Recent years have therefore seen a revived interest in treatment technologies using various types of attached growth processes. The “new” attached growth processes, like the Biostyr process, utilise various kinds of manufactured media, e.g. polystyrene granules, which offer a high specific surface area, and are therefore very compact. The Biostyr plants allow a combination of nitrification-denitrification and filtration in one and the same unit. The results obtained are 8 mg total N/l and an SS content normally below 10 mg/l. The plants in Denmark which have been extended with a Biostyr unit have various levels of PLC control and on-line instrumentation.


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