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Nitrification‐Denitrification Biological Treatment of a High‐Nitrogen Waste Stream for Water‐Reuse Applications
Author(s) -
Jackson W. Andrew,
Morse Audra,
McLamore Eric,
Wiesner Ted,
Xia Shu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143008x370485
Subject(s) - nitrification , denitrification , hydraulic retention time , wastewater , aeration , environmental engineering , chemistry , nitrogen , environmental science , environmental chemistry , pulp and paper industry , organic chemistry , engineering
This research was conducted to evaluate the use of biological nitrification‐denitrification systems as pre‐processors for recycling wastewater to potable water in support of space exploration. A packed‐bed bioreactor and membrane‐aerated nitrification reactor were operated in series with a 10:1 recycle ratio over varying loading rates. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal exceeded 80% for all loading rates (θ = 1 to 6.8 days), while total nitrogen removal generally increased with decreasing retention time, with a maximum removal of 55%. The degree of nitrification generally declined with decreasing retention time from a high of 80% to a low of 60%. Maximum DOC and total nitrogen volumetric removal rates exceeded 1000 and 800 g/m 3 · d, respectively, and maximum nitrification volumetric conversion rates exceeded 300 g/m 3 · d. At low hydraulic loading rates, the system was stoichiometrically limited, while kinetic limitations dominated at high hydraulic loading rates. Incomplete nitrification occurred at high loading rates, likely as a result of the high pH and large concentrations of ammonia.