Wastewater nitrogen removal in SBRs, applying a step-feed strategy: from lab-scale to pilot-plant operation

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Puig ◽  
M.T. Vives ◽  
Ll. Corominas ◽  
M.D. Balaguer ◽  
J. Colprim

One of the problems of nitrogen removal from wastewater when applying sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology, is the specific use of organic matter for denitrification purposes. Since easily biodegradable organic matter is rapidly consumed under aerobic or anoxic conditions (i.e. aerobic oxidation or anoxic denitrification, respectively), it is an important factor to consider when scaling up SBRs from the laboratory to real plant operation. In this paper, we present the results obtained in relation to scaling up reactors from lab-scale to pilot-plant scale, treating real wastewater from two different locations: the laboratory and in situ, respectively. In order to make using easily biodegradable organic matter more efficient, the filling phases of SBR cycles were adjusted according to a step-feed strategy composed of 6 anoxic-aerobic events. Feeding only occurred during anoxic phases. The results obtained demonstrated that the methodology may be useful in treating real wastewater with high carbon and nitrogen variations, as it always kept effluent levels lower than the official standards require (effluent total COD lower than 125 mg COD/L and effluent Total Nitrogen lower than 15 mg N/L).

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 2371-2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Yang ◽  
X. H. Liu ◽  
Y. Z. Peng ◽  
S. Y. Wang ◽  
H. W. Sun ◽  
...  

To obtain economically sustainable wastewater treatment, advanced nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater and the feasibility of achieving and stabilizing short-cut nitrification and denitrification were investigated in a pilot-plant sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a working volume of 54 m3. Advanced nitrogen removal, from summer to winter, with effluent TN lower than 3 mg/L and nitrogen removal efficiency above 98% was successfully achieved in pulsed-feed SBR. Through long-term application of process control in pulsed-feed SBR, nitrite accumulation reached above 95% at normal temperature of 25°C. Even in winter, at the lowest temperature of 13°C, nitrite was still the end production of nitrification and nitrite accumulation was higher than 90%. On the basis of achieving advanced nitrogen removal, short-cut nitrification and denitrification was also successfully achieved. Compare to the pulse-feed SBR with fixed time control, the dosage of carbon source and energy consumption in pulsed-feed SBR with process control were saved about 30% and 15% respectively. In pulsed-feed SBR with process control, nitrogen removal efficiency was greatly improved. Moreover, consumption of power and carbon source was further saved.


2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Puig ◽  
Ll. Corominas ◽  
A. Traore ◽  
J. Colomer ◽  
M.D. Balaguer ◽  
...  

A pilot plant sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was applied in a wastewater treatment plant treating urban wastewater focused on carbon and nitrogen removal. From an initial predefined step-feed cycle definition, the evolution of the on-line monitored pH and calculated oxygen uptake rate (OUR) were analysed in terms of knowledge extraction. First, the aerobic phases of the SBR cycle were operated using an On/Off dissolved oxygen (DO) control strategy that concluded with a sinusoidal pH profile that made detecting the “ammonia valley” difficult. After changing to fuzzy logic control of the dissolved oxygen and by adding an air flow meter to the pilot plant, the pH evolution and on-line calculated OUR showed a clearer trend during the aerobic phases. Finally, a proposed algorithm for adjusting the aerobic phases of the SBR for carbon and ammonia removal is presented and discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 1808-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Figueroa ◽  
A. Val del Río ◽  
J. L. Campos ◽  
A. Mosquera-Corral ◽  
R. Méndez

Aerobic granular sludge grown in a sequential batch reactor was proposed as an alternative to anaerobic processes for organic matter and nitrogen removal from swine slurry. Aerobic granulation was achieved with this wastewater after few days from start-up. On day 140 of operation, the granular properties were: 5 mm of average diameter, SVI of 32 mL (g VSS)−1 and density around 55 g VSS (Lgranule)−1. Organic matter removal efficiencies up to 87% and nitrogen removal efficiencies up to 70% were achieved during the treatment of organic and nitrogen loading rates (OLR and NLR) of 4.4 kg COD m−3 d−1 and of 0.83 kg N m−3 d−1, respectively. However, nitrogen removal processes were negatively affected when applied OLR was 7.0 kg COD m−3 d−1 and NLR was 1.26 kg N m−3 d−1. The operational cycle of the reactor was modified by reducing the volumetric exchange ratio from 50 to 6% in order to be able to treat the raw slurry without dilution.


2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1749-1755 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ruscalleda ◽  
H. López ◽  
R. Ganigué ◽  
S. Puig ◽  
M. D. Balaguer ◽  
...  

The anammox process was applied to treat urban landfill leachate coming from a previous partial nitritation process. In presence of organic matter, the anammox process could coexist with heterotrophic denitrification. The goal of this study was to asses the stability of the anammox process with simultaneous heterotrophic denitrification treating urban landfill leachate. The results achieved demonstrated that the anammox process was not inactivated by heterotrophic denitrification. Moreover, part of the nitrate produced by anammox bacteria and part of the influent nitrite were removed by heterotrophic denitrifiers with associated biodegradable organic matter consumption. In this sense, the contribution on nitrogen removal of each process was calculated using a nitrogen mass balance methodology. An 85.1±5.6% of the nitrogen consumption was achieved via anammox process while the average heterotrophic denitrifiers contribution was 14.9±5.6%. Heterotrophic denitrification was limited by the available easily biodegradable organic matter.


2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Goltara ◽  
J. Martinez ◽  
R. Mendez

A 3.5 L Membrane Sequencing Batch Reactor (MSBR) was used for the treatment of a wastewater coming from the beamhouse section of a tannery. The wastewater, produced after the oxidation of sulphide compounds, contained average COD and ammonium concentrations of 550 and 90 mg/L respectively. The system was operated for a period of 150 days, with no sludge removal during the whole period of operation. The biomass concentration inside the reactor varied considerably, with maximum values close to 10 g/L at the end of operation. Low biomass yield values were achieved probably due to the low feed/microorganisms (F/M) ratio. An important accumulation of organic matter in the reactor was noticed, although the COD effluent was not affected due to the permeation through the membrane. The nature of this organic matter is finally discussed. Removal efficiencies close to 100% in ammonium and 90% in COD were achieved and the TN removal efficiency ranged from 60 to 90%.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingemar Karlsson ◽  
Gunnar Smith

Chemically coagulated sewage water gives an effluent low in both suspended matter and organics. To use chemical precipitation as the first step in waste water treatment improves nitrification in the following biological stage. The precipitated sludge contains 75% of the organic matter in the sewage and can by hydrolysis be converted to readily degradable organic matter, which presents a valuable carbon source for the denitrification process. This paper will review experiences from full-scale applications as well as pilot-plant and laboratory studies.


1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 609-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-J. Shao ◽  
David Jenkins

Laboratory and pilot plant experiments on anoxic selector activated sludge systems were conducted on two wastewaters in some cases supplemented with nitrate, acetate or glucose. To prevent bulking sufficient anoxic selector detention time and nitrate levels must be available to reduce selector effluent soluble COD to below 100 mg/l and to reduce readily metabolizable organic matter to virtually zero (< 1 mg/l). Soluble COD/NO3-N removal stoichiometry is in the range 6.0-6.7. Selector systems have elevated soluble substrate removal and denitrification rates compared to CSTR systems. These rates are not affected greatly by temperature (20-25°C) for CSTR sludges but are for selector sludges. Upon exhaustion of nitrate in a selector soluble COD leaks out of the activated sludge in significant amounts. Thiothrix sp. and type 021N denitrify only to NO2 and at much slower rates than Zoogloearamigera does to N2. A sequencing batch system provides an optimistic estimate of the SVI that can be obtained by an anoxic selector system.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
Shigeo Fujii ◽  
Chiaki Niwa ◽  
Mitsuo Mouri ◽  
Ranjna Jindal

Applicability of the rock-bed filtration technique was investigated through pilot-plant experiments in Bangkok, Thailand. Polluted canal water was used as horizontal flow influent to two reactor channels filled with rocks. During one year operation, HRT, filter media, and aeration mode, were changed in several runs. The results showed that 1) the rock-bed filtration with aeration and the HRT more than 6 h can successfully improve polluted klong water by reducing the pollutants (e.g. 60-120mg/L of SS to 20-40 mg/L and 15-30 mg/L of BOD to 5-20 mg/L); 2) main removal mechanism seems to be the sedimentation resulting from the settleability enhanced by aeration, and the biofilm attached onto rocks also works in the reduction of soluble organic matter; 3) a combination of three rock sizes arranged in descending order showed best results; 4) longer HRT (13 h) produces better effluent but is not so effective if it exceeds 9 hours; 5) 60-70% of sediment IL was decomposed in a year, and porosity in rock beds reduced approximately 16%.


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