Biotreatment of high strength nitrate waste using immobilized preadapted sludge

One of the major wastes generated by fertilizer, explosive, and nuclear industries are nitrate (as high as 1,000 ppm NO(3)N) whose removal before disposal has become a growing concern. In this study, an active denitrifying sludge was immobilized onto support materials like cloth and polyurethane foam and their denitrification efficiency on high nitrate wastes [1,000 ppm NO(3) (225 ppm NO(3)N), 5,000 ppm NO(3) (1,129 ppm NO(3)N), 7,500 ppm NO(3) (1,693 ppm NO(3) N)] was studied. Results showed complete degradation of the nitrate wastes (225 ppm NO(3)N, 1,129 ppm NO(3)N, and 1,693 ppm NO(3)N) without any accumulation of nitrite in a period of only 1, 4, and 10 h, respectively. Based on adhering and entrapment principle, an immobilization unit was developed using a combination of cloth and foam as well as both individually. This system used for treating such high nitrate wastes was found to be quite effective in waste water treatment, particularly in problems associated with solid-liquid separation. The batch column reactor was run in about 45 batches without any loss in activity or reactor stability.