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Optimisation of the operational parameters during a biological nitrification process using response surface methodology
Author(s) -
Darvishi Cheshmeh Soltani R.,
Rezaee A.,
Khataee A.R.,
Godini H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.21785
Subject(s) - ammonium , response surface methodology , nitrification , ammonium chloride , chemistry , sodium bicarbonate , wastewater , volume (thermodynamics) , ammonium bicarbonate , central composite design , ammonia , volumetric flow rate , nuclear chemistry , pulp and paper industry , chromatography , inorganic chemistry , environmental engineering , nitrogen , environmental science , biochemistry , organic chemistry , raw material , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Abstract The main aim of this study was to determine the optimal operational parameters for a biological nitrification process. For this reason, a batch mode biological nitrification filled with acclimated sludge was used to remove ammonium from synthetic wastewater. Increasing the initial ammonium concentration from 50 to 300 mg NH 4 ‐N/L within 67 days led to a decrease in the removal efficiency of ammonium from 97.2% to 57.3%, which is equivalent to increasing the specific ammonium oxidation from 1.09 to 3.85 mg NH 4 ‐N/g MLVSS/h. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was used to evaluate the interactive effects of the three main parameters, including the sodium bicarbonate/ammonium chloride ratio, air flow rate and the reaction time, on the removal of ammonium. For the highest ammonium removal of 98.7%, the optimum sodium bicarbonate/ammonium chloride ratio, air flow rate and reaction time were identified to be 3.48, 3.44 vvm (volume air per volume reactor per minute) and 24.65 h, respectively, based on an initial ammonium concentration of 200 mg NH 4 ‐N/L.