A new process for enriching nitrifiers in activated sludge through separate heterotrophic wasting from biofilm carriers.
A new process, the biofilm-activated sludge innovative nitrification (BASIN) process, consisting of a moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) with separate heterotrophic wasting, followed by an activated-sludge process, has been proposed to reduce the volumetric requirements of the activated-sludge process for nitrification. The basic principle is to remove chemical oxygen demand on the biofilm carriers by heterotrophic organisms and then to waste a portion of the heterotrophic biomass before it can be released into the activated-sludge reactor. By this means, the amount of heterotrophic organisms grown in the activated-sludge reactor is reduced, thereby reducing the volume of that tank needed for nitrification. For nitrification applications, the simplest method for stripping biomass was to use an in-tank technique using high shearing rates with aeration. Bench-scale testing showed sludge yields in the BASIN process were one-half of that in a control activated-sludge process and twice that of a process line with intermediate settling between the MBBR and activated-sludge stage. Critical washout solids retention times for nitrifiers were the same for all three lines, so activated-sludge volumes for the BASIN process could be reduced by 50% compared with the control. Originally conceived process concepts for the BASIN process were confirmed by the experimental work.
Parker
Denny S
DS
Brown and Caldwell, Walnut Creek, California 94596-1220, USA.
Rusten
Bjørn
B
Wien
Asgeir
A
Siljudalen
Jon G
JG
D000465:Algorithms; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014871:Water Microbiology
D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012722:Sewage; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen