Abstract
The study focused on the feasibility of high NH4 +–N (400–600 mg/L) and COD load at two different hydraulic retention times (HRTs = 36 and 24 h) in two identical aerobic–anoxic sequencing bioreactors which were constructed in series in a single system using a specifically designed single biomass containing autotrophic nitrifying and heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria. Internal recirculation of synthetic wastewater from one tank to other was not carried out like the conventional aerobic–anoxic processes. Cycles of 15 days under sequences of aerated and non-aerated periods of three hour each were repeated during each continuous flow experiment conducted. Sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate were selected as the appropriate inorganic and organic carbon sources. The results showed that the HRT may not affect the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification processes. Average nitrification ratio was obtained to be above 20 mg/L NH4 +–N/h daily. Results of 90 days’ operation also showed high removal efficiencies of ammoniacal nitrogen of about 83% daily. The main advantage of this process includes efficient ammoniacal nitrogen removal without separated aerobic and anoxic tanks, decrease operating costs due to the lesser oxygen concentration requirement in the bioreactors.
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Two of the authors would gratefully acknowledge financial support from University Grants Commission, New Delhi. We would also like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Mukesh R. Buha for his support throughout the work.
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Buha, D.M., Atalia, K.R. & Shah, N.K. Continuous process study on simultaneous nitrification–denitrification of high ammoniacal nitrogen load wastewater in aerobic–anoxic sequencing bioreactors. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 14, 2451–2458 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1333-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1333-z