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Biological denitrification of drinking water using autotrophic organisms with H 2 in a fluidized‐bed biofilm reactor
Author(s) -
Kurt M.,
Dunn I. J.,
Bourne J. R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260290414
Subject(s) - denitrification , fluidized bed , chemistry , saturation (graph theory) , residence time (fluid dynamics) , biofilm , hydrogen , autotroph , kinetics , hydraulic retention time , nitrogen , environmental chemistry , nuclear chemistry , environmental engineering , wastewater , bacteria , environmental science , organic chemistry , biology , physics , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , combinatorics , quantum mechanics , engineering , genetics
Biological denitrification of drinking water was studied in a fluidized sand bed reactor using a mixed culture. Hydrogen gas was used as the reaction partner. The reaction kinetics were calculated with a double Monod saturation function. The K s value for hydrogen was below 0.1% of saturation. No appreciable biofilm diffusion effects were detected. Reactor performance was a function of the culture's past history. Batch experiments always exhibited an accumulation of NO 2 − , but continuous experiments with a sufficiently long residence time always resulted in complete nitrogen removal. Rates of up to 23 mg N/L h, 25 mg N/g DW h, and 7.9 mg H 2 /L h were achieved. Residence times of 4.5 h would be required for complete denitrification of water containing 25 mg NO 3 − –N/L or approximately 1 h for every 5 mg/L.