Factors affecting nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater using immobilized bacteria

Abstract

The parameters affecting the nitrogen removal process by the immobilized bacteria in the anoxic-oxic process have been studied by investigating two bench scale Runs A and B. The hollow polypropylene pellets have been dosed into the anoxic reactor in Run A and into the oxic reactors of both Runs up to 24% of volume. Run B was operated with no pellets in the anoxic reactor as a control. The maximum nitrification rate of 0.4 kg NH4-N/m3d was achieved in sufficient DO (6.5 mg/l) at 15°C in the reactor with both activated sludge and immobilized micro-organisms. The volumetric nitrification rate was found to be greatly dependent on bulk oxygen concentration especially when the DO was maintained below 4 mg/l. A mathematical model developed successfully simulated the experimental results showing the variation of nitrification rate with DO. In the case of denitrification, the contribution of immobilized bacteria was prominent when lesser concentration of MLSS was present in the activated sludge in the combined immobilized and activated sludge system. The presence of immobilized bacteria in the anoxic reactor will be effective when higher nitrate nitrogen loadings are expected and the maintenance of higher MLSS than 2 g/l in an activated sludge facility is not feasible.