Control of nitratation in an oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification/denitrification rotating biological contactor through disc immersion level variation.
With oxygen supply playing a crucial role in an oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification/denitrification (OLAND) rotating biological contactor (RBC), its controlling factors were investigated in this study. Disc rotation speeds (1.8 and 3.6rpm) showed no influence on the process performance of a lab-scale RBC, although abiotic experiments showed a significant effect on the oxygenation capacity. Estimations of the biological oxygen uptake rate revealed that 85-89% of the oxygen was absorbed by the microorganisms during the air exposure of the discs. Indeed, increasing the disc immersion (50 to 75-80%) could significantly suppress undesired nitratation, on the short and long term. The presented results demonstrated that nitratation could be controlled by the immersion level and revealed that oxygen control in an OLAND RBC should be predominantly based on the atmospheric exposure percentage of the discs.
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Emilie N P
EN
Courtens
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Nico.Boon@UGent.be.
Nico
N
Boon
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, 918 MUDD MC4711, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Haydée
H
De Clippeleir
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Karla
K
Berckmoes
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Mariela
M
Mosquera
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Dries
D
Seuntjens
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Siegfried E
SE
Vlaeminck
D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D052818:Autotrophic Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D008956:Models, Chemical; D058465:Nitrification / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen
Ammonia oxidizing bacteria; Nitrification; Nitrite oxidizing bacteria; Oxygen transfer; Rotating disc contactor