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Evaluation of Deammonification Process by Response Surface Models

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Abstract

The influence of the operational variables on the Anammox process has been generally researched considering each variable separately. However, the optimization of the process also requires the identification of the more significant variables and their possible interactions. Response surface models were successfully applied to evaluate the performance of the Anammox process in a deammonification system (i.e., one-stage biofilm Anammox process) taking into account the combined effects caused by two sets of three variables. Specific Anammox activity was measured by a manometric method and used as the response variable. The obtained models pointed out that the significant variables were the temperature, the value of pH, and the ratio between the unionized species of the substrates (free ammonia and free nitrous acid (FA/FNA)). There were interactions among them caused by chemical equilibriums. Total nitrogen concentration and ammonium concentration were found to be not significant in the tested range. According to the models, the optimum values of temperature, pH, and free ammonia to free nitrous acid ratio within the test ranges were, respectively, 30°C, 7.0, and 0.3. Further research at higher temperatures and lower values of pH and FA/FNA ratios would be necessary in order to find the absolute optimum conditions for the process. The obtained model can be also useful in order to develop control strategies that take into account the significant variables and their optimum ranges. A strategy to control deammonification reactors has been proposed, according to the results of the modeling.

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Acknowledgements

I. Fernández thanks Xunta de Galicia for the María Barbeito grant and for the travel grant to research in Sweden, partially funded by EU ESF. Support was given by Hammarby Sjöstadsverk and KTH. Help from Monica Löwén, Jinjing Yang, Andriy Malovanyy, and Tomasz Stypka is sincerely appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lope Gómez de Marzoa, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Isaac Fernández & Ramón Méndez

  2. Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Brinellvägen 32, S-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    Elzbieta Plaza, Jozef Trela & Bengt Hultman

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  1. Isaac Fernández
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  2. Elzbieta Plaza
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  3. Jozef Trela
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  4. Bengt Hultman
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  5. Ramón Méndez
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Correspondence to Isaac Fernández.

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Fernández, I., Plaza, E., Trela, J. et al. Evaluation of Deammonification Process by Response Surface Models. Water Air Soil Pollut 215, 299–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0479-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0479-9

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