Enhanced biological phosphorus removal in RBC with SBR modification

Abstract

The rotating biological contactor (RBC) system was operationally modified with a sequencing batch reactor to achieve biological phosphorus removal from a weak domestic sewage along with nitrogen removal. This study utilized three RBC units, of which two units were the main units to remove phosphorus and NH4N and the third RBC unit was used as the storage of wastewater for its minimal effect to the PAO activities in the anaerobic stage during the operation. It was noticed that the biofilm thickness in RBC must be controlled to be less than 1.8 mm in order to achieve more than 70% of P removal with about 60% of N removal. With a settled sewage representing 200 mg/L of COD and 5 mg/L of P, the predicted P content in biofilm was more than 3% and the effluent P concentration was about 1 mg/L. The %P content in biofilm decreased with an increase of influent COD/TP ratios. The COD requirement for anaerobic P release was similar to reported values for the suspended growth system, however, the overall requirement increased with thicker biofilm.