Carbon and nutrient removal in a dual-media fluidized bed reactor

A dual-media fluidized bed is a unique reactor design containing two distinct media that results in two segregated treatment zones. By the strategic use of these two zones, this design has the potential to remove both BOD and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in a single compact reactor. Three operational strategies are conceivable. The first is to maintain a microbiological zone close to the influent to achieve BOD and nitrogen removal. The zone above would contain an exchange media to remove phosphorous. In another scenario, the lower zone would be kept aerobic and the higher zone anoxic. This would enhance denitrification. In the third scenario, the first two are combined by having the exchange media serve as the anoxic zone or including an independent third zone (aerobic, anoxic, and exchange). This scenario could result in the comprehensive treatment of BOD, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal. This proof-of-concept research primarily investigated the first scenario and provided preliminary data for the other two. A low-loaded operating strategy was used to minimize the inherent disadvantages of a fluidized bed reactor, primarily caused by excessive biofilm growth. The reactor was operated for approximately 1 year using sand and activated alumina as the two media. Good separation with minimum mixing at the interface resulted. BOD and phosphorus removal and nitrification were consistently very good during non-transitional periods. Denitrification varied depending on the influent concentration, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation/reduction potential. Preliminary data also indicated that when a low recirculation ratio is used, denitrification could be enhanced. There appears to be a potential difficulty, however, in exchanging phosphorous using activated alumina under low oxidation/reduction potential conditions.