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Nutrient removal with methanol as a carbon source full-scale continuous inflow SBR application.
H Lee1, J A Brereton, D S Mavnic
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungju National University, Chungbuk, Korea.
Environmental Technology
|January 5, 2002
Summary
Methanol addition to continuous inflow SBRs did not improve total nitrogen removal but significantly reduced denitrification time. Phosphorus removal efficiency also increased with methanol, impacting sludge settling properties.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Wastewater Treatment Technologies
- Microbial Ecology in Wastewater
Background:
- Continuous inflow Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) are utilized for effective wastewater treatment.
- Methanol is a potential carbon source for enhancing denitrification and phosphorus removal in SBR systems.
- Optimizing SBR performance requires understanding the impact of supplemental carbon sources on treatment efficiency and sludge characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of methanol as a carbon source on denitrification and phosphorus removal in a full-scale continuous inflow SBR.
- To assess the influence of methanol addition on reaction kinetics, sludge production, and settling properties within the SBR system.
Main Methods:
- A full-scale continuous inflow SBR at a Canadian wastewater treatment plant was used for the study.
- Methanol was added as a carbon source to an experimental SBR unit, while a parallel unit served as a control without methanol.
- Key performance indicators including nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies, denitrification reaction time, solids production, and sludge settling were monitored and compared.
Main Results:
- Total nitrogen removal efficiency remained comparable between the methanol-added SBR and the control SBR.
- Methanol addition significantly accelerated the denitrification reaction time.
- The experimental SBR with methanol exhibited consistently higher phosphorus removal efficiency compared to the control. Solids production was estimated between 0.18-0.29 gVSS/gCH3OH, and sludge settling qualities were affected.
Conclusions:
- While methanol did not enhance overall nitrogen removal, it proved effective in shortening denitrification reaction times in continuous inflow SBRs.
- Methanol addition positively impacted phosphorus removal efficiency and altered sludge settling characteristics.
- Continuous-flow SBR design inherently supports high nitrogen removal due to effective carbon loading, with methanol offering kinetic and phosphorus removal benefits.