Comparison of anoxic granulation in USB reactors with various inocula

Anoxic granulation process with four different inocula was monitored in a laboratory post-denitrification up-flow sludge bed (USB) reactor. Wastewater containing 20 mg L−1 NO3-N and methanol as an organic carbon source was used. Gradual increase of mass volumetric loading (B v) and hydraulic loading (γ) resulted in spontaneous granulation of anoxic biomass both from flocculant activated sludge and from anaerobic granulated sludge. With flocculant activated sludge as the inoculum, anoxic granules sedimentation properties and maximum loadings of the USB reactor depended on the sludge volume index (SVI) of the inoculum. B v,max achieved in the USB reactor with flocculant inoculum from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (SVI = 208 mL g−1) was only 4.2 kg of COD per m3 per day and 0.7 kg of NO3-N per m3 per day. B v,max using flocculant inoculum from an industrial wastewater treatment plant (SVI = 170 mL g−1) was 8.1 kg of COD per m3 per day and 1.35 kg of NO3-N per m3 per day. With anaerobic granulated inoculum (SVI range 8–11 mL g−1), markedly higher loadings in the USB reactor and lower SVI values of anoxic granulated biomass were achieved. Values of B v,max were in the range of 16.1–22.4 kg of COD per m3 per day and of 2.7–3.7 kg of NO3-N per m3 per day (depending on the inoculum and the granulation procedure). It was proved that anaerobic granulated sludge is not just an inoculum, it is also a carrier for new denitrification biomass.