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The influence of transient phenomena on the biodegradation of nitrilotriacetic acid in the activated sludge process I: Variations in hydraulic loading and sewage strength

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Abstract

The removal of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) following acclimatization in an activated sludge pilot plant has been studied during transient changes in operating conditions. These changes included increases in hydraulic loading and influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) and such phenomena in combination with transient temperature reductions. Short-term increases in hydraulic loading from 1 to 2 dry weather flow (dwf) had a very limited effect on NTA removal. Increasing the influent COD had a slight effect on NTA removal. Short term increases in hydraulic loading combined with transient reductions in temperature significantly reduced NTA removal. The effect of these combined changes on NTA removal was synergistic, rather than additive. Increases in influent COD combined with transient temperature reductions also caused a significant reduction of NTA removal. The effect of such combined changes on NTA removal was at most only additive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Health Engineering Laboratory, Civil Engineering Department, Imperial College, SW7 2BU, London, UK

    M. Hunter, T. Stephenson, J. N. Lester & R. Perry

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  1. M. Hunter
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  2. T. Stephenson
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  3. J. N. Lester
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  4. R. Perry
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Hunter, M., Stephenson, T., Lester, J.N. et al. The influence of transient phenomena on the biodegradation of nitrilotriacetic acid in the activated sludge process I: Variations in hydraulic loading and sewage strength. Water Air Soil Pollut 25, 415–430 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283793

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283793

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