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Pilot‐scale Experience with Biological Nutrient Removal and Biomass Yield Reduction in a Liquid‐solid Circulating Fluidized Bed Bioreactor
Author(s) -
Chowdhury Nabin,
Nakhla George,
Zhu Jesse,
Islam Mohammad
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.2175/106143010x12609736967080
Subject(s) - volatile suspended solids , clarifier , effluent , chemical oxygen demand , suspended solids , total suspended solids , bioreactor , chemistry , fluidized bed , biomass (ecology) , phosphorus , nutrient , wastewater , mixed liquor suspended solids , sewage treatment , biochemical oxygen demand , anoxic waters , pulp and paper industry , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , environmental science , activated sludge , agronomy , biology , organic chemistry , engineering
A pilot‐scale liquid‐solid circulating fluidized bed (LSCFB) bioreactor was developed at the Adelaide Pollution Control Plant, London, Ontario, Canada, to study its commercial viability for biological nutrient removal. Lava rock particles of 600 µm were used as a biomass carrier media. The LSCFB removed approximately 90% organic, 80% nitrogen, and 70% phosphorus at loading rates of 4.12 kg COD/m 3 ·d, 0.26 kg N/m 3 ·d, and 0.052 kg P/m 3 ·d, and an empty bed contact time of 1.5 hours. Effluent characterized by <1.0 mg NH 4 ‐N/L, <5.0 mg NO 3 ‐N/L, <1.0 mg PO 4 ‐P/L, <10 mg TN/L, <10 mg SBOD/L, and 10 to 15 mg volatile suspended solids (VSS)/L can easily meet the criteria for nonpotable reuse of treated wastewater. The system removed nutrients without using any chemicals, and the secondary clarifier removed suspended solids removal without chemicals. A significant reduction (approximately 75%) in biomass yield to 0.12 to 0.16 g VSS/g chemical oxygen demand (COD) was observed, primarily because of long biological solids retention time (SRT) of 20 to 39 days and a combination of anoxic and aerobic COD consumption.